Vienna shrugs off its modesty, puts on its finest clothes and presents some of the best the city has to offer in the #wienliebe three-day festival.
- Open-air festival
- Focus on gastronomy, with music, arts & crafts
- Located on the central Rathausplatz
- 2027 dates: TBA (was May 23-25 in 2026)
- Take in a classical concert* while visiting
- See also:
Celebrating a city
(The imposing Rathaus makes a great background and the broad white canopies offer an alternative to the usual wooden booths found at such events)
Now here’s a festival after my own heart.
Vienna often hosts events presenting the delights of one of Austria’s regions, like the Steiermark, Burgenland, or the Waldviertel.
And now, like a debutante stepping out after watching from the sidelines, Vienna has finally presented…Vienna; the #wienliebe festival took place for the first time in May 2024 and has become an annual event.
The name translates to Vienna Love, and that first edition on the large Rathausplatz square attracted some 54,000 visitors with its culinary, cultural, and crafted treats for locals and visitors alike. Around 64,000 visited the 2026 edition.
Food & drink
(The folk from Demel appeared in 2026. The photo shows their popular location on Kärtner Straße)
Vienna is known for its Heuriger wine taverns, sausage stands, and cafés. Not to mention its cakes and traditional dishes like Wiener Schnitzel, which is practically a staple food here.
All the above and more make an appearance at #wienliebe courtesy of some of the better-known city establishments. 2026 had, for example, Demel (famous for their cakes and Kaiserschmarren) to name just one.
Expect most food to be organic with plenty of vegetarian & vegan options along with the meat.
(Look for a selection of beers from the Ottakringer Brauerei)
Our city brewery normally spreads Viennese tradition in half-litre glasses. And you have a chance to sample the city’s wines (Vienna has a flourishing wine sector thanks to the kindness of the local geological and meteorological deities).
Music, culture & sport
Traditional Viennese songsters use the kind of accented German you won’t find on your language app. But a programme of main stage performances typically takes in a wider spectrum of offerings. From chamber music and waltzes to Austropop.
A smaller stage in the neighbouring park usually presents traditional tavern music: the kind you find at the Remassuri show.
(Various entertainments took place on a large stage)
A small number of booths allow local businesses to showcase their handcrafted products. These cover the kind of creative crafts you might otherwise find at the seasonal Christmas markets.
And 2026 brought in a fresh section dedicated to sports with various stands, acts and stars around on the Saturday and Sunday.
Dates, tickets & tips
I don’t have 2027 details at the time of writing, but the previous edition ran from May 23rd to May 25th. Entry is free, and opening times last time out were:
- Saturday: 11am to 10pm
- Sunday: 11am to 10pm
- Monday: 11am to 6pm
My experience with these big open-air festivals is that they can get remarkably busy. So we usually go at the start of the Saturday or Sunday before the crowds grow.
How to get to #wienliebe
The Rathausplatz is central and best reached directly by tram, though you can walk to it easily from various subway stations in the centre.
Trams: take line 2 to Parlament or lines 1, D, 71 to Rathausplatz / Burgtheater.
Subway: use the U2 line and get out at Rathaus station.
Address: Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna | Website