“A bit of music in the garden” takes on another dimension in the Viennese summer: a live performance by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in the landscaped park of Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Welcome to the annual Summer Night Concert.
- Free, open-air Sommernachtskonzert in the palace grounds
- Classical music with a world-class conductor and soloist(s)
- 2026 date: TBA (was June 13th in 2025)
- Park closes if it reaches capacity so travel early
- Check locally for any weather-related problems etc.
- Book a concert experience* for Vienna
- See also:
The concert
(A previous concert; press photo © Niklas Schnaubelt)
Vienna has a habit of gifting us beautiful settings for unique events. The Summer Night Concert (“Sommernachtskonzert” in German) is a prime example.
Each year, the world-renowned Wiener Philharmoniker gives a free open-air performance in the landscaped park and gardens of Schönbrunn Palace.
Picture a huge stage standing among sculpted flower beds and lawns, a golden imperial palace on one side, the majestic Neptune fountain on the other. Then add a light display and, most importantly, one of the world’s greatest orchestras.
That’s the Summer Night Concert.
It really is as impressive as that sounds: read about my experience at a previous event.
The tradition began in 2004 as a “concert for Europe”, conducted by none other than Bobby McFerrin, and has since gone global: TV stations around the world broadcast the performance.
The programme usually features relatively accessible classical pieces, with the occasional surprise. Perhaps my favourite moment was a rendition of the Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back.
(Apparently, the Philharmoniker are a fan of that particular piece. They once performed with its composer, John Williams, and made a special request that the march be included in his programme.)
Programme & performers
It’s a little early for 2026 details at the time of writing. But to give you a flavour of what to expect…
The 2025 event featured conductor Tugan Sokhiev, tenor Piotr Beczala and a first-ever appearance for the famous Vienna Boys’ Choir.
The programme had a strong operatic theme with notable overtures and arias, including the incomparable Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s Turandot.
Andris Nelson conducted the 2024 concert with soprano Lise Davidsen as soloist and a programme that drew on popular European works from the 1800s and 1900s; the featured composers ranged from Smetana to Shostakovich with Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries a particular highlight.
(The Wiener Philharmoniker, Elīna Garanča, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin performing at an earlier concert; press photo © Max Parovsky)
The concert prior to that had Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Elīna Garanča with a focus on French Romanticism to Impressionism and excerpts, for example, from Bizet’s Carmen (I was lucky enough to see Garanča perform the title role of that opera at Vienna’s Staatsoper).
One constant, though, is the traditional encore featuring the likes of Wiener Blut by Johann Strauss II.
2026 dates, tickets & tips
I await details for 2026. The Summer Night Concert typically fills an early summer slot, which was June 13th in 2025. That performance began at 8.45pm with gates for the general public opening from around 5pm.
You always need to get there well before the start time, of course, because entry is free and requires no ticket, with admission on a first come – first served basis; the earlier you arrive, the better view you get. We once got there an hour early and had good (but not the best) positions.
The gates close soon after the concert begins, but sometimes earlier if the park reaches full capacity.
Check the official website for full organisational details, including what you can and can’t take in with you, where you can watch, barrier-free seating opportunities etc.
Note that you will have to stand. Only orchestra partners and sponsors qualify for a seat, though some seating is available for those with reduced mobility (for which you must register in advance).
The site should also have information and/or social media links covering the current concert status and access situation on the day should too many people attend or the weather intervene, etc.
Should you miss out and wish to catch up on recent concerts, the Philharmoniker tend to bring out a CD/DVD/Blu-Ray soon after each event.
Another option is the small Wiener Philharmoniker Museum built into the Haus der Musik, which had lengthy highlights of the most recent Summer Night Concert playing on a big screen when I last visited.
How to get to the concert
Directions for the palace are here.
Access to the concert site for visitors who are neither VIPs nor registered for barrier-free seating is usually only from the northeast and northwest sides of the park, via the so-called Meidlinger and Hietzinger gates (follow the crowds).
If using public transport, take the U4 subway line to either Schönbrunn station (close to the Meidlinger gate entrance) or Hietzing station (close to the, um, Hietzinger gate entrance).
Subway frequency typically increases before and (particularly) after the event, so you should not have a long wait when traveling to and from Schönbrunn.
Address: Schloß Schönbrunn, 1130 Vienna | Website