Austria's ball season is sometimes called the "fifth season" and stretches between November and February. In a country that knows how to enjoy life with all senses, these events are truly magical.
No other country has balls as romantic and festive as Vienna. The traditional events enchant locals and guests from around the world alike well beyond a single night. More than 400 balls take place in Vienna every winter, attracting dance-loving visitors from all walks of life. The special ambience is created by the ceremonial programme and the courtly customs, which go back to the 18th century: there are dress codes, an opening fanfare, the debutants' arrival, and the exclamation "Alles Walzer!" Other highlights include the so-called "midnight performance," often a quadrille, and a small gift for every visitor when entering the hall.
Many of the Viennese balls are now organized by professional guilds. The coffee maker ball, for example, transforms the Vienna Hofburg into the most festive dance café in the city with its elegant and charming programme, while the Viennese confectioners came up with a "ballet of pastries". Many consider the Ball of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to be the unofficial highlight of the ball season: It takes place in the halls of the Vienna Musikverein, from where the New Year's Concert is broadcast every year. The Opera Ball, set "in the most beautiful ballroom in the world" - the Vienna Opera House - is the official State Ball of the Republic of Austria. It also aims to celebrate the artists of the Vienna State Opera in one magical night.
Hofburg, Vienna
A Viennese ball highlight, not just for those with a sweet tooth. The city's bakers and confectioners invite you to dance in the imperial ambience of the Hofburg. An event in itself: the tombola. You can win 3,000 handmade cakes!
When: 16th January 2025
Musikverein, Vienna
Vienna's most exclusive ball, as some would say, is hosted by one of the most famous orchestras in the world, and invites dancers into the Golden Hall of the Musikverein.
When: 23rd January 2025
Opera House, Graz
Big robes, festive ambience: the ball in Graz' Opera - one of the most magnificent opera houses in Europe - is the social event in the Styrian capital. The Graz Philharmonic, the ballet, and the singers open the ball together.
When: 25th January 2025
Hofburg, Vienna
The Physician's Ball is another mainstay of Vienna's Ball Season. The fancy setting inside the Imperial Palace guarantees a glamorous night! And should there be any medical emergencies, you are perfectly covered, too.
When: 25th January 2025
Hofburg, Vienna
A popular ball, not only among coffee lovers. The event with 6,000 guests takes place in the Hofburg and is a highlight of the Viennese carnival. Obviously, one of the must-do's here is a visit to the coffee bar!
When: 21st February 2025
State Opera, Vienna
Once a year, the Vienna State Opera transforms into the most beautiful ballroom in the world. Guests from all over marvel at the opening polonaise, sip champagne, and listen to the performances of well-known opera singers.
When: 27th February 2025
Kongresshaus, Salzburg
The Salzburg "Edelweiss Club", the leading mountaineering club in the city, hosts its own ball event every year. The dress code is strict: dirndls and lederhosen. This is the perfect ball for those who want a more rustic and Alpine atmosphere!
When: 31st January 2025
Rathaus, Vienna
The ball takes place in the state rooms of the Vienna City Hall and the arcade courtyard. Johann Strauß dedicated the Morgenblätter Walzer (also known as Feuilleton Walzer) to the Concordia Ball.
When: 24th May 2024
With tailor-made courses, the Rueff dance school is aimed particularly at international guests who are planning a dance evening during their visit to Vienna - and have little time to rehearse. Here, dancing is not only seen as a sequence of steps, but as a living cultural phenomenon!
The Elmayer dance school is located right next to the stables of the Spanish Riding School in downtown Vienna: couples or individuals are taught the most important dance steps in the famous Palais Pallavicini, while getting a crash course on ballroom etiquette at the same time.
The well-known Viennese dance school teacher Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer talks about Vienna's ball culture and his favourite dance.
Listen to Thomas-Schäfer Elmayer answering the most important questions about Vienna´s Ball Season.
Lambert Hofer junior is one of the most sought-after outfitters of the Viennese ball scene. As soon as summer is over, the first tailoring requests for the opera ball arrive in the studio. At the height of the ball season in Vienna, crowds gather at the atmospheric shop on Margaretenstrasse, just like on the dance floor of the Vienna State Opera right before the midnight quadrille.
"The Viennese ball culture is unique," says Olga Hofer, who has been running the tailcoat and costume rental in the fourth district on her own for some time now, following her husband's death. “In Germany, men can go to an exclusive ball in a black suit, that's an absolute no-go in Vienna. Tuxedo is the minimum, tailcoat is better. ”And so, year after year, Ms. Hofer and her team of tailors help countless despairing men find a matching tailcoat.
The waltz as a couples dance initially stirred up moral outrage. The Vienna Congress (1814/15), which met in the Austrian capital to reorganize Europe after Napoleon's campaigns, finally made the dance socially acceptable. The political work was so abundantly accompanied by balls that the legendary saying "the congress dances!" was born.
The intoxicating rotary movements in the waltz step brought an intimate atmosphere to the festive ballrooms. And Johann Strauss's father (1804 - 1849), who composed 152 popular waltz tunes, made the dance popular together with his orchestra from Vienna to London. "May I?" is the classic invitation to dance during a long ball night.
