A month like the day before your birthday. In October, everyone in Vienna stares impatiently into their coffee while waiting for the advent festivities to start. But October has its own appeal, with, for example, the city’s parks and woodlands ablaze with autumnal colour.
- Book a concert experience* for October
- See also:
Top activities in October 2024
Most of Vienna’s tours, concerts, museums and similar remain available all year. But what can October offer in particular?
Exhibitions
(The Kunsthistorisches Museum always has a super year-end exhibition)
The heavyweight year-end exhibitions should all in full swing, ready for the coming Christmas visitor rush. I await full schedules, but highlights already include:
- The Kunsthistorisches Museum presents its Rembrandt exhibition from October 8th, which features the perspective of his student Samuel van Hoogstraten
- The Albertina has the delightful prospect of a Chagall exhibition and a solo exhibition for Robert Longo, while the solo exhibition for Franz Grabmayr reaches its end (until October 13th)
- The Albertina also brings some of the lost works of Schiele back to life (a concept I shall not expand on to leave you intrigued)
- And completing a trio of seasonal joy: the Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien gives us Paul Gauguin (from October 3rd)
- The Albertina Modern offers up some of the best of Austria with solo exhibitions for Erwin Wurm and Alfred Kubin (dark motifs for dark days)
- The Wien Museum has an exhibition in its new main building on the secessionist movements of Vienna (Klimt!), Munich and Berlin (ends on October 13th)
- Lower Belvedere dedicates a major retrospective to the German artist Hannah Höch (ends on October 6th). The same location also has Austria’s first solo exhibitions for Akseli Gallen-Kallela and (from October 25th) Amoako Boafo
- Enjoy a more multisensory experience at the Heidi Horten Collection through the Light, Sound and Senses exhibition
- Your last chance to see the highlights of various art collections built by the Vienna Insurance Group: Unknown Familiars runs until October 6th at the Leopold Museum. The very end of the month sees them begin a solo exhibition for Rudolf Wacker, a leading light in New Objectivity (from October 30th)
- The iconic designs of the Auböck workshop at the MAK museum appear until October 13th. The MAK also brings us a plethora of top 21st century Austrian design objects across multiple applications in the Aut Now exhibition
- Collecting and storing contemporary art has its challenges given the rise of multimedia. The Wien Museum MUSA offers insights into Vienna’s approach
- Camels are far more than cantankerous beasts of burden with a pendant for spitting. They and their domesticated relatives have always played a key role in society. The Weltmuseum has the insight in a special exhibition
- The Weltmuseum also continues with its presentation of indigenous Amazonian art and explores the influence of the Qur’an on European thought
- Catch the final days of the Jewish Museum‘s look at Nazi theft and restitution (until October 27th and in cooperation with the Wien Museum). They also consider the legacy of the Holocaust today, especially from the perspective of the third post-Shoah generation
- Anton Bruckner celebrates his 200th birthday in 2024: reason enough for the National Library to hold a special biographical exhibition
- Writer Friederike Mayröcker also gets a special exhibition at the Literature Museum
See also the wider exhibition listings for more suggestions and details…
Gamer heaven
(Only in Vienna: neogothic towers and modern console entertainment)
The huge Game City gaming fair (October 11th to 13th) occupies the Rathausplatz square and features eSports events, cosplay, merchandise and numerous stands showcasing, for example, the latest games and gaming hardware. Entry is free.
A visit also gets you a look at the rather gorgeous looking halls and staircases of the Rathaus (city hall).
Museums, but not as you know them
(Numerous locations participate)
This is a fun event.
A whole bunch of Vienna’s museums throw open their doors late and usher you in to experience special tours, displays, and/or entertainment one evening in October.
A lovely buzz runs through the city during this Long Night of Museums (2024 date TBA), which the ORF state broadcasting company organises. Thousands mill the streets with a single ticket covering entry to any participating museum.
The silver screen
A notable October highlight will appeal to fans of cinema.
Vienna’s leading film festival, the long-running Viennale, has all the accoutrements you expect of such an event: prestigious prizes, special guests, national and international pre-release films, etc. (October 17th to 29th).
The Blue Danube Film Festival, which has screenings in Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava, also takes place in October in 2024 (1st to 5th).
Form, function, food (and whisky)
(Look for Edelstoff in the Marx Halle)
October also traditionally hosts some special art & design events:
- Design is the watchword at Pots und Blitz (2024 dates TBA), which has around 40 artists and artisans presenting ceramics and porcelain for you to admire and buy
- The lovely Edelstoff design market visits the Marx Halle for its autumn edition (October 19th and 20th)
- And the WAMP design market drops into the MuseumsQuartier (October 5th)
- FAIR FOR ART Vienna is an art and antiques fair that drops into the historical Aula der Wissenschaften (October 5th to 13th)
- And Art Austria Highlights adds another art fair to Viennese life (2024 dates TBA)
After all that art and design, you might need to settle into an armchair, pour yourself a whisky and recharge your batteries.
Alternatively, visit the Vienna Whisky Convention in the MuseumsQuartier (October 18th and 19th). Or simply visit the GENUSSWELTEN gourmet festival at the MAK (October 19th and 20th).
Parades and displays
October 26th is Austria’s official national holiday. So you may find parades and other events around the town centre.
The Austrian army typically puts on one or more displays on Heldenplatz and elsewhere, while the emergency services and other public safety organisations present their work on the big Rathausplatz square in front of town hall at the Wiener Sicherheitsfest (October 25th and 26th).
Music, merriment & sausages
(Get ready to rock)
There’s no better time to hold an Oktoberfest than, um, in October.
A Vienna equivalent was the former Wiener Wiesn Fest, but the new Kaiser Wiesn event started up in 2022 at a similar location and runs from September 26th until October 13th in 2024. So pack your Lederhosen, gentlemen and your Dirndls, ladies. There will be much feasting and music.
Talking feasting, the Wiener Wurstfest covers all things sausage-related and shares a location with the Grill und Genussfestival Wien / Vienna BBQ Days (2024 dates TBA).
If you prefer electric guitars and synthesisers to accordions, then take in the Indie Label Woche (2024 dates TBA). The Reigen music venue hosts rock to pop to punk to hip hop (and more) across six nights of gigs showcasing local talent.
Seasonal tip…
Enjoy the autumn colours
(Spotted on a woodland walk)
Autumn turns the city’s trees into swirls of yellows and reds. And we have a lot of trees. For some seasonal ambience, consider:
- The Vienna woods: these dominate the western edge of the city, but you needn’t travel far from the centre to enjoy nature’s transformation. Try, for example, the Stadtpark, where the Strauss statue adds another golden hue to October’s colours
- Continue the autumnal feeling at the Wiener Herbsttage Viennese Autumn Days (October 11th to 13th) in the palm house and surrounds of the Burggarten park. Expect rare fruit varieties, arts, crafts, and edibles
- Or pop down to the Prater to combine a Ferris wheel ride with a long country walk along hiking trail 9
Enjoy.