Some events just seem to carry an atmosphere of joy about them. This two-day street festival is a perfect example. Leave your cynicism at the door and enter the Südwind Straßenfest.
- Celebration of the vital work of NGOs
- International flavour with live music, food, guilt-free shopping opportunities, and info stands
- 2026 dates: TBA (was June 29-30 in 2024)
- Book a guided walking tour* of Vienna
- See also:
The Südwind festival
(Press photo © Südwind /Cornelia Hartung)
Given the world’s politicians seem intent on taking us all down in a blaze of greed and climate change apathy, it does the heart good to see the wonderful work done by voluntary organisations.
Step forward the Südwind Straßenfest, an event first held in 1984. Dozens of NGOs come together in Vienna to showcase their efforts and give everyone a good time while doing so.
Expect…
- Music, of the traditional, alternative, street and world kind, with regular on-stage performances. And the spoken word gets its time in the spotlight, too, with a poetry slam
- Food and drink, with stalls selling ethical and organic fare from around the world.
- Shopping, with stands offering the kind of fair-trade goods that don’t leave you worrying if the workers or the planet got a decent deal out of the exchange.
- Workshops, allowing you to hone skills more traditional in Brazil or India than in downtown Vienna.
- Information, with NGOs presenting their work in various fields of endeavour for you to learn about (and support).
And, most important:
- A good vibe; a dose of international friendship, a pinch of solidarity, a smile or two of generosity of spirit, and a big wave in the direction of sustainability.
The organisers – Südwind – are themselves an NGO working for sustainable development, human rights, and fair conditions for workers.
2026 dates, tickets & tips
The Südwind Straßenfest takes a break in 2025 with a planned return in 2026, though I don’t have concrete dates just yet. The previous (2024) event ran across June 29th and 30th. You pay no entry fee: just go in and enjoy the atmosphere.
Opening times last time out were 2pm to 11pm on the Saturday and midday to 8pm on the Sunday.
How to get to the Straßenfest
The street festival traditionally takes place in the main courtyard of the “Altes AKH” old general hospital, now part of the University of Vienna, the location of a popular Christmas market and home to a handful of bars/restaurants with outdoor seating.
Tram/bus: There’s a tram stop outside (Lange Gasse), reached on the 5, 33, 43, and 44 lines. The 43 and 44 leave from Schottentor, a central station on the U2 subway line.
Address: Campus der Universität Wien (Hof 1), Spitalgasse 2, 1090 Vienna | Website
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