List of balls in Vienna


The first balls in Vienna were held in the 18th century. Today, 450 balls are held in the city. The ball season runs during Carnival from 11 November to Shrove Tuesday in February, although others are scheduled throughout the year. Most balls are formal events where dancers wear a gown, tuxedo, or formal traditional Austrian dress. Traditional balls such as the Vienna Opera Ball open with debutantes performing a polonaise, followed by a choreographed waltz such as the Viennese waltz. Traditional ball etiquette also involves the use of dance cards and presentation of "Damenspenden", or spending gifts, to the young women attending the ball. In 2018, the Vienna Chamber of Commerce estimated over 500,000 people would attend a ball that season and spend on the events. The ball season has also attracted political controversy. The Vienna Ball of Sciences was founded in 2015 as an alternative to the Academics’ Ball, which was sponsored by the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria and is frequently protested.
BallLocationWhenNoteOrganizerurl
Wiener Rotkreuz BallRathausNovemberNo longer held since 2022.Vienna Red Cross
Hofburg SilvesterballHofburg PalaceDecemberNew Years Eve Dinner+Ball Hofburg Palace
ZuckerbaeckerballHofburg PalaceJanuaryVienna Bakers and Confectioners
Ball der Wirtschaftsuniversität WienHofburg PalaceJanuaryVienna [University of Economics and Business]
SteirerballHofburg PalaceJanuarySteirer Association
Ball der OffiziereHofburg PalaceJanuaryMilitary Officers BallTheresian Military Academy
Ball der PharmacieHofburg PalaceJanuaryLess overcrowded - enough floorspace to waltz.Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists
TU BallHofburg PalaceJanuaryVienna University of TechnologyTU Wien
BlumenballRathaus, ViennaMid-JanuaryFlower BallVienna City Gardners
JägerballHofburg Palacelast Monday in JanuaryHunters Ball. Traditional costume mandatoryGreen Cross Association
Wiener AkademikerballHofburg Palacelast Friday in Januaryuntil 2012: "Ball des Wiener Korporationsringes"Vienna Academic Ball
Wiener AerzteballHofburg Palacelast Saturday in JanuaryMedical Association of Vienna
Vienna Ball of SciencesRathauslast Saturday in January
BOKU-BallHofburg PalaceFebruaryUniversity of [Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna]
IAEA-BallHofburg PalaceFebruaryInternational [Atomic Energy Agency]https://iaeastaffassociation.org/
Hofburg-Ball der Wiener WirtschaftHofburg PalaceFebruaryVienna Business BallVienna Economic Association
PhilharmonikerballMusikvereinElegant White Tie Cultural EventVienna Philharmonichttps://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/vienna-philharmonic-ball
Techniker-CercleMusikvereinBall of Industry and TechnologyClub Techniker-Cerclehttps://ball.techniker-cercle.at/
ImmobilienballHofburg PalaceFebruary
Wiener KaffeesiederballHofburg PalaceFebruaryExtravagant traditional ball closely associated with the Viennese coffeehouse tradition
RegenbogenballHofburg PalaceFebruary
Vienna International Spring BallHofburg PalaceMarch
Vienna Opera BallVienna State OperaFat Thursdaygovernment figures, international celebrities, debutants, wide televised coverageVienna State Opera
St. Johanns Club BallPalais Liechtensteinlate SpringSt. Johanns Club/Jockey Club members, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, historical nobility
JuristenballHofburg Palacelawyers, judges, law students
Rudolfina RedouteHofburg PalaceShrove Mondayladies must wear masks
Elmayer-KränzchenHofburg PalaceShrove TuesdayElmayer dance school
FlüchtlingsballRathausfirst Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Concordia BallRathaussummer the oldest Viennese Traditional BallConcordia Press Club
Life BallRathaussummer biggest charity event in Europe supporting people with HIV or AIDSGery Keszler