Winter 2019

Until the middle of February, there will be countless balls in the "waltz city" of Vienna!
Maybe you too can attend one or more balls, or enjoy this unforgettable atmosphere from a loge or while strolling!

If you want to have a lie-in on the next day, then we have a very special offer for you! Order our special ball breakfast with selected delicacies, salmon and a glass of sparkling wine on the evening before - and we will serve it in your room at any time until 11.00 a.m. (at no extra charge). You will indulge in memories while we happily spoil you!

We worked all day...
on the floor, at the breakfast service and at the reception... But this year again - a few days before Christmas - we were busy blow-drying, setting our hair, applying make-up, etc.
Our team celebrated and spent a wonderful Christmas Eve together!

First at the Hotel AUSTRIA, then by enjoying the unique ambiance of the mirrored tent at the Palazzo.

With an exquisite 4-course menu, combined with many great artistic and comedic interludes, this evening will be unforgettable for everyone, for a long time!

As for the absolute STARS of the evening, it was all of US!
OUR VERY OWN  -  Hotel AUSTRIA Team...

Each year more than 450 balls take place in Vienna. The city of waltzes exuberantly celebrates Carnival in January and February. The three-quarter rhythm is supplemented by more contemporary sounds, offering enjoyable dancing for every taste.

The best time of the year begins for ball-goers and dance fans on 11 November. The Vienna ball season starts punctually at the beginning of Carnival with public dancing of the waltz in the city center. In Vienna, the ball season reaches its peak in January and February. The old tradition of carnival balls continues to thrive in the city. While some dancers enjoy following the three-quarter time of the waltzes, others may prefer letting loose to a disco beat.

The ball season kicks off with the Vienna Red Cross Ball at City Hall (30 November 2018). On New Year’s Eve, guests dance into the new year in a magnificent setting at the New Year’s Eve Ball at the Hofburg Vienna (Imperial Palace).

Numerous other famous ball events are held here as well, such as the Hunters' Ball - Jägerball (28 January 2019), the Doctors' Ball (26 January 2019) and the Lawyers' Ball (2 March 2019). The Coffee-house Owners' Ball (22 February 2019) is one of the most atmospheric. Each year it brings about 6,000 visitors to Vienna's Imperial Palace and into the Redoutensäle.

The Opera Ball (28 February 2019) at the Vienna State Opera is legendary. On this one day, visitors have the unique opportunity to see the famous opera house on Ringstrasse not only from the spectators' seats but actually experience it "backstage" surrounded by many music celebrities.
The Vienna Philarmonic (24 January 2019) opens the doors to its ball at the Vienna Musikverein. However, at this event the musicians of this world-famous orchestra can only be found with their instruments during the introduction. Because even the performers of the Vienna Philarmonic want to shake a leg now and then.

The sweetest ball is the Bonbon Ball (1 March 2019) at the Wiener Konzerthaus. This ball is known for its fun and informal ambiance. The Strauss Brothers once celebrated their greatest accomplishments at the Vienna Kursalon - where visitors can now dance to the tune of waltzes at the Johann Strauss Ball (16 February 2019).

For the Flower Ball (18 January 2019), City Hall transforms into a unique sea of flowers. Also being held in City Hall is the Viennese Ball of the Sciences (26 January 2019), which represents Vienna’s entire research and higher education landscape in all its diversity, internationality and excellence.
This year’s Ball of the Vienna Boys' Choir (March 29 2019) will be held outside the traditional ball season in Palais Coburg. The spring ball is opened by the Boys' Choir and is thematically dedicated to a different country each year. This time, the focus is on Japan

From January until March the Vienna Rathausplatz will be transformed into a huge ice rink and becomes a paradise for ice skaters of every age. The "Little Ice World" opened on 16 November as part of the Vienna Christmas Dream.

The idyllically illuminated façade of City Hall forms the fairytale backdrop for Vienna Ice World. An 8,000 m² ice landscape delivers entertaining winter enjoyment for skating fans of every age. Both families and sporty visitors who are seeking action on the ice will get their money's worth here. Every day from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm, fantastically wild or sweepingly elegant loops can be turned to popular music hits and to some sounds of the waltz. From 16 November until 6 January, a smaller rink of 3,000 m² will be open at the Vienna Christmas Dream during the Vienna Ice World.

Winding through the romantically illuminated City Hall Park is a magical ice path that thrills beginners and professionals alike with its countless routes. A free practice area is available for the very youngest ice skaters from Monday to Friday, from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. At 5.00 pm, it transforms into eight curling lanes, where sporty curlers can put their skills to the test.

Restaurateurs pamper guests with delicacies made from regional and organic ingredients at various outdoor booths and in the popular Almhütte with terrace. Warming drinks are also available at Vienna Ice World - from fragrant organic punch to tea. There are 2,000 pairs of ice skates (all pre-heated with warm air) for rent on site. Lockers are available for any items of clothing or shoes that you don’t need while skating.

Vienna Ice World, 18 January - 3 March 2019. Daily from 10.00 am - 10.00 pm Curling Mo-Fr 5.00 pm - 10.00 pm: Online reservation required Information at www.wienereistraum.com

Little Ice World, 16 November 2018 - 6 January 2019
Daily from 10.00 am - 10.00 pm, 24 December 10.00 am - 6.00 pm Closed on 31 December 2018

The most successful ice show in the world brings the program "Atlantis" to the Wiener Stadthalle from January 16: an homage to the submerged paradise. Holiday on Ice takes audiences to probably the most magnificent, richest and most enchanting island kingdom that has ever existed in legend.

Holiday on Ice goes on a journey of adventure to the submerged city of Atlantis. The legend is staged as a spectacular ice show with breathtaking acrobatics on the ice and in the air, with fantastic costumes and surprising effects.

Thirty-five professional ice skaters create snapshots of love and life in scenarios above and below the water. Breathtaking stunts, quadruple jumps and a wheel consisting of 30 figure skaters rotating backwards like a glittering turnstile are just some of the highlights of the new show.

Thanks to the technical perfection of the performers, the journey to the magical kingdom above and below the water becomes a unique experience for the audience - worthy of Holiday on Ice's 75th anniversary.

Holiday on Ice – Atlantis, January 16-27, 2019

The International Accordion Festival Vienna celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2019 and gathers the crème de la crème of accordionists for four weeks again, starting February 23. With rousing, innovative music ranging from lively to subtle.

When piano and organ maker Zyrill Demina invented the accordion in Vienna in May 1829, he changed folk music around the world. The instrument was loud, easy to learn, but at the same time transportable and inexpensive. All of a sudden, a single accordion was enough to provide rhythm and melody, liveliness and atmosphere at wedding parties and harvest festivals. A real attitude to life, if you will, that has occupied a permanent place in the world of music in Vienna down to the present day.

The diverse, mutlifaceted and also exotic music concealed within this headstrong instrument can be experienced, heard and enjoyed every year at the International Accordion Festival Vienna. The festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019 and thus once again demonstrating that there are still new things to report from the world of this widely traveled instrument.

The anniversary festival starts with the opening gala in the Stadtsaal with the quintet Alma and ends with the popular regular guests Attwenger at Schutzhaus Zukunft. In between, there will be musical highlights such as Anna Steinkogler & Valentin Butt, Spaemann & Bakanic, Duo Montanaro Chavez and Klaus Paier & Asja Valcic. Of course, Otto Lechner and Die Wiener Ziehharmoniker, Dobrek Bistro and the Wiener Tschuschenkapelle will be there.

Further highlights are the Polish Motion Trio and the musical coming together of the great French accordionist and composer Richard Galliano with the Upper Austria Jazz Orchestra at the Stadtsaal, where Troi (Franziska Hatz, Tino Klissenbauer, Valentin Blum) expand their spectrum of sound with Robin Gillard and Bernd Satzinger.

A silent movie matinée on each of the Sundays during the festival and accordion workshops in collaboration with the Österreichisches Volksliedwerk (Austrian Folk Song Society) complete the program. What’s more, the Accordion Festival Lounge takes place in Café Mocca on Saturdays, hosted by musician Franziska Hatz.

International Accordion Festival 2019, February 23 - March 24, 2019
Various venues
www.akkordeonfestival.at