A Viennese Christmas is about the lights, the sights, the smells…and the sounds. Expect fewer sleigh bells and more violins, though: after all, you’re in the concert capital of classical music.
Here are my tips for finding the best classical concert, church and choir performances during the Advent season.
- Book a Christmas concert experience* for your trip
- See also:
Jump to:
- Mozart, Strauss & light classical
- Church & cathedral concerts
- Musikverein
- Konzerthaus
- The opera houses
- Concerts elsewhere
- Christmas markets
- Choirs
Classical concerts for 2026
Goodness, Vienna has so many. All the popular venues continue their concert programmes through late November and December.
However, below I list Christmas-themed highlights from the major concert & church locations as I come across them, as well as details of some smaller and seasonal venues.
At the time of writing (early June), event schedules are still not complete. So come back later for updates.
Mozart & more for visitors
(The Alte Börse old stock market…now a venue)
Throughout the year, various orchestras and ensembles perform the music of Mozart, Strauss and/or other famous composers with visitors in mind.
These concerts typically feature accessible, light classical music in an authentic historical venue. Seasonal changes to the usual routine are common, with many such venues offering special Christmas concerts*.
Concerts in churches
Many churches hold advent concerts and choral recitals through December. Here are some of the more popular locations…
Stephansdom
(This Viennese landmark dominates the centre of town)
The grand cathedral is the heart of the city and obviously worth visiting in its own right or to attend, for example, one of the regular giant organ concerts.
Expect a dozen or so additional seasonal concerts* from late November through to Christmas. The Wiener Symphoniker orchestra usually holds an annual Advent Concert there, too.
Peterskirche
(The dome mirrors that of its Vatican namesake)
A beautiful baroque church in the centre, which hosts concerts in the church itself and also in the crypt.
Notable for the regular performances by the Classic Ensemble Vienna (I attended with a friend and thoroughly enjoyed the concert), which continue through December.
Karlskirche
(The entrance is actually on the right hand side)
The mighty and magnificent baroque church on Karlsplatz square also has a fair few concerts in the advent season programme.
In December 2026, for example, the Orchestra 1756 put on regular evening performances of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
Minoritenkirche
(This ancient bastion dates back to the 1200s)
Home to the Italian congregation in Vienna, this large gothic church also sits in the city centre.
Unlike many similar locations, the Christmas concerts* tend to be an eclectic mix of different performers and works (so check the programme for what’s happening on any one day).
Kapuzinerkirche
(Home to many former Emperors and Empresses)
In 2026, the Wiener Kaiserquartett & Friends perform a selection of seasonal music and songs in the Capuchin Church on various dates from late November to the end of December.
The church sits above the Imperial Crypt. So you can enjoy some festive classical music and also see the last resting place of those who ruled at the time the pieces were written.
Annakirche
(The interior decoration in the Annakirche is mindblowing)
And another gorgeous church in the old town with concerts typically focusing on the peak era of Viennese classical music (think Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, etc.).
The previous three Advents also had festive tunes performed on trumpets. And the trumpets return in 2026*.
Votivkirche
(Impressive, but not as old as it looks!)
The Light of Creation immersive light & music show* at the church continues across advent. I’ve not been myself, but heard good things about it from friends.
In 2026, this neo-gothic giant also has, for example, performances by Stella Jones & The American Christmas Gospel.
The Musikverein
(The façade above the front entrance)
The Musikverein ranks as probably the world’s most prestigious and best classical music venue. They have daily “normal” performances, but seasonal events and concerts always pop up.
The Wiener Mozart Orchestra performs here* across much of Advent 2026 in period costume, too.
Other (Christmas-specific) performances include:
- Christmas im Wiener Musikverein (December 15th) featuring the Cappella Istropolitana orchestra and soloist singers
- The Sound of Christmas (December 22nd) featuring the Imperial Philharmonic orchestra
If we stretch out the concept of the Christmas period a little, then a reliable annual constant is the rather excellent New Year’s Concert from the Wiener Philharmoniker.
This major cultural event traditionally takes place on December 30th and 31st, as well as January 1st. Though you must have applied for tickets early in the year to have a chance of attending.
(More info and tickets on Musikverein events available at their website.)
The Konzerthaus
(The Konzerthaus main entrance)
Another prestigious venue is the Konzerthaus, which usually has a more eclectic advent choice.
The venue always hosts Christmas in Vienna: the rather-apt title of a traditional gala music event held annually. The 2026 dates are December 16th (preview edition) and December 17th (the main event).
International singers typically accompany, for example, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Konzerthaus’s own choir (the Wiener Singakademie), and the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra for a seasonal sing-song and feel-good evening of entertainment.
The program can range from traditional carols and songs to pop classics, opera arias, and orchestral compositions.
Should you miss out on tickets, the national broadcaster (ORF) usually shows it on TV (as do many other countries, I believe).
Other Christmas-themed performances scheduled at the time of writing include:
- Am Weihnachtsabend (December 9th) with the Jazzrausch Bigband
- Soulful Advent (December 9th) with Jocelyn B. Smith & Band
- Advent with Elīna Garanča (December 10th) featuring the opera great along with, for example, the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Wiener Singakademie
- Swinging Christmas (December 12th) with the Gerhard Aflenzer Broadway Big Band and singers
- A Sisters Christmas (December 16th) where the Schick Sisters and guests perform Christmas classics and their own compositions
- Buon Natale (December 20th) featuring Christmas songs from around the world with tenor Paolo Scariano and others
- Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Parts I, II, IV & VI (December 20th, 21st & 22nd) with the prestigious Wiener Symphoniker orchestra
- The Sound of Christmas (December 21st) with the Homin choir performing international Christmas songs
- Ukrainian Christmas (December 22nd) with the Homin choir
(More info and tickets for Konzerthaus events available at their website.)
The opera houses
- The Staatsoper performs Strauss’s Die Fledermaus on New Year’s Eve (and again on January 1st)
- The Volksoper has its traditional Christmas concert on December 14th (twice)
Bonus Concerts in Museums etc.
One intriguing option is the Fever candlelight concerts, which typically feature classical interpretations of popular or modern music, along with more classical evenings that fit the time of year.
Venues around Christmas include the likes of the Weltmuseum, the refurbished Sofiensäle, and Palais Ferstel.
The amateur tradition
A special bonus mention for the Concentus21 orchestra, as they uphold the Viennese tradition of amateur orchestras and musicians.
The orchestra usually brings us a special performance at Advent. On November 28th, 2026, it will be Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major and Mozarts’s Symphony No.40 in G minor.
The Mozarthaus
This is where Mozart once lived and the location of the main museum dedicated to the composer. Keep an eye out for concerts there. The Wiener Ensemble, for example, typically plays many dates in December.
Frankly, it’s rather cool listening to, for example, Mozart’s music in the same house he composed it in.
The Christmas markets
(The entrance to the Christkindlmarkt)
Keep an ear open when visiting the various Christmas markets, as several may have public music performances.
Promising options include the Christkindlmarkt: the main market in front of the Rathaus (city hall) had brass ensembles performing most days in the evening last time out. See also choir singing below.
Choirs
Vienna Boys’ Choir
The Wiener Sängerknaben tend to be quite busy at the end of the year. The choir’s website has a calendar of all their performances, with appearances in the Hofburg court chapel usually continuing through advent.
Check the website of their own venue for in-house events, which typically include several Christmas performances by the choir.
Rathaus
(Imposing architecture and international choirs)
In 2025, the main hall of the neogothic Rathaus behind the Christkindlmarkt hosted choirs on Advent weekends (Fridays to Sundays). We had performances from 3.30pm to 7pm. Entry was free and over 80 choirs from around the world participated. A similar event is planned for 2026.
Still not found something?
Simply keep your eyes open for flyers and posters as you wander through the city centre! And check my broader guide to Christmas 2026 in Vienna for other activity and event suggestions.
Enjoy!