Wiener Wiesn Fest Vienna 2025 

Celebrate Austrian traditions in the heart of Vienna 🎉 

Among the many events Vienna has to offer, the Wiener Wiesn Fest stands out as a lively celebration of Austrian traditions. From September 25 to October 12, 2025, the Prater’s Kaiserwiese transforms into a festive ground filled with music, dance, and culinary delights. 

Wiener Wiesn Fest in Vienna has all the fun elements of Oktoberfest…but without the crowds. Expect men dancing in lederhosen, dirndls, some of Austria’s finest beer served in huge litre jugs, and plenty of traditional foods. And worry not! If those giant pretzels don’t do the job, there are countless options of good, old-fashioned Austrian cuisine, ranging from the quintessential Wiener Schnitzel to the Brettljause to soak about the copious amounts of alcohol. 

Festival overview 🗓️ 

🗓️ Dates: September 25 – October 12, 2025 
📍Location: Kaiserwiese, Prater, 1020 Vienna 
🕐 Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11:30 AM – midnight 
🎟️ Admission: Free during the day; evening events in tents require tickets 

Music and entertainment 🎶 

The Wiener Wiesn Fest Vienna is a family-friendly event that showcases the best of Austrian culture, including traditional music, attire, and cuisine. With over 700 hours of live music and performances by more than 1,900 musicians, there’s entertainment for everyone.  

The festival features three large tents and five alpine huts, each offering a unique atmosphere.  

🎪 Gösser tent: Known for its lively parties and performances by bands like Die Lauser 
🎪 Wiesbauer tent: Offers a mix of traditional and modern music acts 
🎪 Kaiser tent: Hosts a variety of events, including themed nights and special performances 

Expect to dance and sing along to a mix of folk, pop, and Schlager music. The lineup includes popular acts such as BÄÄM & Brass, Die Dirndlrocker, and Die Südsteirer. 

Other fun aspects of the festival include the annual Miss Wiener Wiesn contest, in which female contestants will be judged on their beer mug lifting ability and singing karaoke to the popular Heidi song. You don’t want to miss this one out!  

Go for a ride on Wiener Riesenrad 🎡 

Any trip to Vienna is incomplete without a visit to the Prater just to go for a spin on the Wiener Riesenrad, one of the earliest Ferris wheels of the world. Built in 1897 to mark the Golden Jubilee of Emperor Josef, the wheel was close to being dismantled after being severely damaged during the Second World War. Luckily, the wheel was repaired and now it is one of the key features of the Vienna’s skyline. The wheel has achieved iconic status thanks to appearance in several classic movies that include The Third Man, Living Daylights, and Before Sunrise.  

For more suggestions on what to do in Vienna in one day, you can browse our travel blog.

Culinary delights 🍽️ 

No Austrian festival is complete without delicious food and drinks. You can expect:  

🥨 Traditional dishes: Enjoy Austrian food dishes like Brettljausn (cold cuts platter), knusprige Stelze (crispy pork knuckle), and classic Brezn (pretzels) 
🥨 Vegan options: For those seeking plant-based meals, vegan bratwurst and other options are available 
🥨 Drinks: Quench your thirst with a refreshing Austrian lager or try a traditional schnapps 

Sample Vienna’s coffeehouse culture ☕ 

Vienna is synonymous with cafe culture and there are a bunch of great coffeehouses to choose from. Here are our top 3 picks:  

🥧 Cafe Sperl: One of the most well-known cafes in Vienna. Walking into Sperl is like a walk back in time: parquet floors, bentwood Thonet chairs, marble tables, crystal chandeliers and carambole billiards. Makes for some very instagrammable photos 📸 
😻 Cafe Neko: The first cat cafe in Europe, perfect for all of you feline fans!
🎥 Kleines Cafe: Intimate and romantic, with a peppermint facade that may be familiar to those who have watched “Before Sunrise”. Julie Delpy’s character Celine gets her palm read here and Ethan Hawke (aka Jesse) reveals his innate scepticism of palm readers. If you’re lucky you’ll meet the owner, Hanno Pöschlo, who gives a cameo at the beginning of the film as the disgruntled husband on the train.  

Discover more top locations in our article on the top 7 best coffee houses in Vienna. ☕

Cultural experiences 🛍️ 

Beyond music and food, the festival offers a range of cultural activities: 

👉 Traditional attire: Embrace Austrian traditions by wearing a Dirndl or Lederhosen  
👉 Craft stalls: Browse through stalls offering handcrafted goods and souvenirs  
👉 Children’s activities: The festival is family-friendly, with games and activities for kids  

Late-night fun 🌙 

Feeling snacky at night? Satisfy your midnight cravings with local eateries offering everything from sausages to pastries. MEININGER tip: try the Kasekrainer (sausage with cheese) at the end of the evening; it’s the snack of choice for many locals. And for the best cocktails bars in Vienna we’ve prepared a comprehensive list to make your life easier.

Planning your trip & ticket information 🎟️ 

While daytime entry is free, evening events in the tents require tickets. In addition to the three festival tents, everyone can enjoy free entertainment in the Wiesn Village: at the open-air festival stage, in the ORF Alpine Hut, in the Winzer-Stadl for wine-lovers and in the hayloft. Tickets can be purchased online or directly at the venue. 

Summin’ up… 🌟 

The Wiener Wiesn Fest Vienna 2025 is your ticket to celebrating Austrian traditions with music, dancing, tasty food, and cold Austrian lager. Whether you’re here for the live bands, the outfits, or the good vibes, this festival has it all.