Our Top Cultural Activities in Austria This Summer 

The cultural impact of Austria has long attracted visitors from around the globe. The Artsper team is here to help you find the hidden cultural gems in Austria this summer. For art enthusiasts and culture fanatics alike, there are some exciting events coming up quickly over the next few months. The key to planning out your summer activities is being both organized with your dates, and well-informed on your options. Therefore, our experts have collated a list of the most highly-anticipated activities in the cultural calendar this summer. Ready for an Austrian adventure full of arts and culture? This one’s for you. 

1. “Georg Baselitz – 100 Drawings,” Albertina Museum, Vienna (June 7th to September 17th 2023)

Considered to be one of the precursors of German neo-expressionism, Georg Baselitz was born in Germany in 1938. Today, his work is remembered for its signature style and quintessentially delicate balance between figuration and abstraction. From June 7th until September 17th 2023, the Albertina Museum will be presenting one hundred of the artist’s iconic drawings. Baselitz donated these precious artworks to the museum, exemplifying the artist’s extensive contribution to post-war comtemporary art. If you are a fan of expressionism and Baselitz’ work, you are going to want to visit this exhibition in the heart of Vienna. Tickets are available on the museum website! 

2. Salzburg Festival, Salzburg (July 20th to August 31st 2023)

In Salzburg, they’re throwing a party for the 150th birthday of theater director Max Reinhardt! The Salzburg Festival truly is the heartbeat of the city during the summer months, exhibiting opera, film, music and theatre. The festival unfolds in the center of Salzburg, surrounded by vast lakes at the foot of the Alps. This year the festival shall be held from July 20th to August 31st. In addition to the annual theater performance of Jedermann outside the city’s cathedral, there is a whole host of musical recitals and operatic showcases which animate the city of Salzburg during the summer. The variety of displays on offer at the festival is truly unparalleled in the world of music, arts and culture. For those of you who find yourself in Salzburg this summer, the festival is definitely worth a visit! Tickets and the festival program are available via the Salzburg Festival website.

3. “500 Years of Siblings in Art,” Lentos Kunstmuseum, Linz (June 2nd to September 17th 2023)

Affectionately regarded as one of the culture capitals of Austria, the city of Linz is no stranger to a highly-regarded art exhibition. This year, from June 2nd to September 17th, the Lentos Kunstmuseum, located in the center of the city, shall be presenting a new exhibition. This showcase shall trace the representation of siblings and family in art over the course of history. Curated by Nicole Fritz of Kunsthalle Tübingen, the exhibition shall include works by internationally-acclaimed artists such as Egon Schiele, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Lisa Huber and Cindy Sherman. If you are interested in both the evolution of sibling representations in the art world, from the Brothers’ Grimm fairy tales to post-war family photographs, it is definitely worth paying a visit to Linz this summer. Ticket information is available on the museum’s website.

4. “Agnes Fuchs, Her Eyes Were Green,” MUMOK Museum of Modern Art, Vienna (May 5th to October 8th, 2023)

For those of our readers who enjoy spending their afternoons exploring world-famous contemporary art galleries, we’ve got you covered. Located in a black basalt cube in the courtyard of the Viennese Museums Quarter, the MUMOK Museum of Modern Art is home to a vast selection of contemporary and late-modern artworks. This summer, from May 5th to October 8th, the museum is presenting to visitors an exhibition of works by Agnes Fuchs. The Austrian artist makes use of painting, video pieces, and installations as a means to explore the evolution of contemporary digital technologies. The exhibition has been met with critical acclaim for its innovative and diverse presentation of Fuchs’ work. If you plan to be in Vienna this summer, this exhibition is certainly worth a visit!

5. Parallel Vienna (September 5th to 10th 2023)

As the summer months draw to a close, some of the most highly-anticipated art fairs begin in the world of contemporary art! This year, we are looking forward to the Parallel Vienna art fair, taking place from September 5th to 10th! Since its first days, the fair has been a pioneer in its representation of new and emerging talents in the contemporary art market. One particularly unique facet of the fair stands out to our team. Each year, the fair transforms a different vacant building into a platform for the showcasing of innovative contemporary artworks. In this way, Parallel is a hybrid event, which combines the commercial buzz of art fairs with the intrigue of art exhibitions and open art studios.

And there you have it! Our list of top summer activities in Austria over the summer. Whether you are looking for music, art, theater, film or just a cultural day out, there truly is something for everyone! We can’t wait to hear about your European adventures throughout July and August. Which cultural activities do you have in mind for your summer calendar?