Vienna in a cultural frenzy: film festivals and exhibitions inspire!

Vienna in a cultural frenzy: film festivals and exhibitions inspire!

In October, Vienna presents itself as a cultural showcase full of diversity and joie de vivre. The 63rd Viennale, which runs until October 28th, is transforming the city into a vibrant film metropolis. Historic cinemas in the city center show a remarkable selection of international feature films and documentaries, often in the form of Austrian premieres. The festival not only offers visitors interesting film screenings, but also comprehensive retrospectives on cinema pioneer Jean Epstein and the talented director Angela Summereder, complemented by exciting panel discussions with filmmakers. Advance ticket sales for the Viennale have already seen record demand, which shows how much Viennese people and numerous tourists value the art of film. Loud ad-hoc-news.de This cultural density in Vienna is anything but coincidence, but the result of a well thought-out cultural strategy.

But the Viennale is only one facet of the diverse cultural program. The impressive exhibition “JITKA HANZLOVÁ Identities” ends today in the renowned Albertina, while the retrospective of the photographer Lisette Model begins on Wednesday, which also draws attention to visual art. Not to be forgotten is the exhibition “Gothic Modern. Munch, Beckmann, Kollwitz”, which will be on view until January 2026. The Art History Museum is closing its doors today for the exhibition “Pomp & Embossment – ​​The Emperors and their Court Artists”, while the Leopold Museum is keeping its doors open until winter for “Hidden Modernism”. Further highlights are the exhibitions in the MAK and Vienna Museum, which underline the cultural diversity of Vienna.

Music and events

There's also a lot on offer in the music scene today: The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra amazes the audience in the Musikvereinssaal, while jazz legend Diana Krall performed yesterday in the Vienna Konzerthaus and this evening the Herbert Pixner Project is celebrating in a sold-out concert. If you like rock, you have the opportunity to see the band The Hives perform at the Gasometer this evening. Smaller venues like Flex and Chelsea also feature performances by Aime Simone and Sun Kil Moon. These converging events make Vienna a real cultural destination that attracts people from all over the world.

The cultural activities go far beyond the boundaries of film festivals and exhibitions. From October 30th, “Wien Modern”, the festival for contemporary music, will once again put the city into a creative state of emergency. The Albertina is also already looking for new exhibitions: “LEIKO IKEMURA. Motherscape” will be on display in November, and “FASZINATION PAPER. From Titian to Kiefer” will follow in December.

Cultural support in Vienna

Another fundamental aspect is the support of culture through the budget of the City of Vienna. A total of around 30.8 million euros is planned for 2023 - the highest budget since 2010. This increase of 2.77 million euros compared to the previous year is an important signal from the city to the cultural scene. The majority of the funding goes to institutions close to the state and has a major impact on festivals and many initiatives that allow cultural life in Vienna to flourish. Vienna IGKultur highlights that more than 100 additional positions were documented in the cultural report in 2023, which illustrates the appreciation of cultural work in Vienna.

Particular attention is also paid to supporting film festivals and summer cinemas in Vienna. Since August 1, 2025, new guidelines developed by the City of Vienna have been in effect to ensure effective and sustainable funding for culture and science. Those eligible to apply, ranging from natural persons to legal entities, can receive support for various projects here. wien.gv.at lists the conditions and application procedures that are helpful for those interested in further advancing Vienna's film and cultural landscape.

Overall, it shows that Vienna is not only a center for high culture, but also creates space for contemporary impulses. With a strong focus on promoting arts and culture, the city is increasingly positioning itself as an attractive destination for luxury tourism and is well-equipped for the future to keep cultural life vibrant all year round.