A month like the day before your birthday, when everyone in Vienna stares impatiently into their coffee while waiting for the advent festivities. But October has its own appeal, with, for example, the parks and woodlands ablaze with autumnal colour.
- Book a classical concert experience* for October
- See also:
Top activities in October 2025
Most of Vienna’s tours, concerts, museums and similar remain available all year. But what can October offer in particular?
My quick tip
As we drift from summer to autumn, how about a bit of classical music to ease the transition?
The gorgeous Peterskirche church in the centre hosts evening concerts* featuring light classical pieces. The musicians of the Classic Ensemble Vienna perform the works.
Exhibitions
(The Kunsthistorisches Museum always has a super year-end exhibition)
The heavyweight year-end exhibitions have filled museum galleries by October, ready for the coming Christmas visitor rush. Not all schedules are out yet, but so far we have…
Highlights
- Lower Belvedere has a treat for us with the Cézanne, Monet, Renoir exhibition, drawing on works around French impressionism from the Museum Langmatt (which is closed until 2026 for renovation work), as well as the final days of their look at women artists & Modernism (until October 12th)
- We have a special exhibition on wonderful baroque artist Michaelina Wautier at the Kunsthistorisches Museum that includes contemporaries like Rubens and van Dyck, plus a smaller exhibition around still-life artist Pieter Claesz
- Meanwhile at the Albertina, solo exhibitions continue for photographer Jitka Hanzlová and light artist Brigitte Kowanz. Gothic Modern showcases modernist masterpieces and their medieval inspirations. And you have a last chance to catch The Viennese Bohème (until October 12th) with its works by members of the Hagen Society
- Upper Belvedere brings its in-depth look at Gustav Klimt’s unfinished work The Bride to an end (runs until October 5th)
- The Albertina Modern has the final days of its exhibition of drawings by Damien Hirst (until October 12th)
- View Vienna through time at the Heidi Horten Collection (until October 15th), as captured in art by Balthasar Wigand (b.1770), Rudolf von Alt (b.1812) and Stefan Oláh (b.1971)
- Modernist art in the context of spiritual philosophies and similar movements adorns the walls of the Leopold Museum
- Art from the 60s gets its turn in the spotlight at mumok in what you can think of as a combined art and cultural history exhibition. They also cast a retrospective look at the 1980s from the perspective of the museum’s collection and activities
- The musa gives a mid-career retrospective to Leopold Kessler
- One of Austria’s globally-acclaimed artists has an exhibition at Belvedere 21, which explores Fritz Wotruba’s sculptures in an international context on the 50th anniversary of his passing
- Get a little seasonal in October with the MAK museum: Bicycle & Lobster features Christmas tree decorations from the 1920s to the 1950s
- An exhibition at the National Library state hall brings 100 years of Austrian history to life in a series of photos
- There’s more to trousers than an innocent garment, as you can discover at the Weltmuseum
- And more to Mozart’s dining habits than a menu list, as a special exhibition at the Mozarthaus reveals
- …which segues nicely to the topic of Meat: the Wien Museum takes a wide-ranging look at its past, present and future in Vienna
- The G*d exhibition with its perspectives on a deity draws to a close over at the Jewish Museum (runs until October 5th). The museum continues its photo exhibition revealing the prevailing scars and legacy of WWII and the Shoah. And it starts its look at Jewish identity in the context of skin colour (from October 22nd)
- Finally, an intriguing look at the multifaceted building approach of Anupama Kundoo at the Architekturzentrum Wien
See also the wider exhibition listings for more suggestions and details as they arrive…
Special bonus
- Foto Wien is a biannual event that celebrates the medium of photography for a whole month with a huge number of events, exhibitions, and activities. The 2025 edition runs from October 4th to November 2nd
Gamer heaven & Manga mania
(Only in Vienna: neogothic towers and modern console entertainment)
The huge Game City gaming fair (October 10th to 12th) 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).
Meanwhile, the AniMarkt market with a strong manga and anime theme has its autumn edition (usually October 26th but 2025 dates TBA). Lots of fan art and pop culture creations up for sale.
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 from 6pm until midnight 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 (October 4th), which the ORF state broadcasting company organises. Thousands mill the streets with a single ticket covering entry to any participating museum.
The silver screen
(The Gartenbau cinema is a film festival mainstay)
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 16th to 28th).
And the Austrian Independent Film Festival slips into the month, too (October 10th to 11th).
Form, function, fun, food (and drink)
(Look for Edelstoff in the Marx Halle)
October also traditionally hosts some special art, craft & design events.
The biggie is the Modellbau Messe and Create Con at the VIECON / Messe Wien exhibition centre (it’s skipping 2025, though) with some 40,000 visitors usual across its weekend.
This show and con covers all things to do with model making, creative design, and arts & crafts with displays (for example of model train layouts), shows (such as remote-controlled airplanes and construction vehicles in action), an artists alley, dozens of booths, workshops, and more.
Other art and design events include:
- Vienna Design Week (September 26th to October 5th) has numerous exhibitions and other events across the theme
- The lovely Edelstoff design market typically visits the Marx Halle for its autumn edition (October 11th and 12th)
- The WAMP design market also appears (October 4th)
- FAIR FOR ART Vienna is an art and antiques fair that drops into the historical Aula der Wissenschaften (September 27th to October 5th)
After all that art and design, you might need to settle into an armchair, pour yourself a drink and recharge your batteries.
Alternatively, visit the MuseumsQuartier for the Vienna Whisky Festival (October 16th and 17th) or the Ginmarkt meets Aperitivo festival (October 18th). Or simply visit the GENUSSWELTEN gourmet festival at the MAK (October 24th to 26th).
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, um, 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 25th until October 12th in 2025. So pack your Lederhosen, gentlemen and your Dirndls, ladies. There will be much feasting and music.
The Gleis//Garten large food hall also hosts an Oktoberfest (2025 dates TBA).
Talking feasting, the Wiener Wurstfest covers all things sausage-related and shares a location with the Grill und Genussfestival Wien / Vienna BBQ Days (October 18th and 19th).
If you prefer electric guitars and synthesisers to Oktoberfest accordions, then take in:
- Waves Vienna (October 2nd to 4th), which showcases new musical talent from around the world through dozens of live performances. And there’s a side programme of events for those wishing to dig deeper into the current issues facing the music industry
- The Indie Label Woche (next 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
Top tennis
An ATP500 tennis tournament reaches Vienna with the Stadthalle hosting the Erste Bank Open (October 18th to 26th). Alexander Zverev was top seed last time out, but Jack Draper took home the trophy.
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 9th to 12th) 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
And if things turn a little chilly later in the day in October, how about some ideas for evening activities?