May is one of the best months in Vienna. Spring is in full bloom, terraces are open, and the cultural calendar is busy. This guide lists events that usually take place in May. Dates, programmes and ticket prices change every year, so confirm them with the organiser or at wien.info before you plan around them. See also our Vienna events calendar.
Performing Arts
Wiener Festwochen (Vienna Festival)
The Wiener Festwochen is an international arts festival that usually runs from mid-May into June, with theatre, music, performance and installations at venues across the city. Prices vary by event, and some events are free. Check the festival site for the current programme.
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera performs almost every night of its season. The repertoire changes month by month, so check the Staatsoper’s online calendar for exact productions and dates. Standing-room tickets are usually the cheapest way to get in; the website explains how and when they are sold.
Film and Music
Vienna Shorts
Vienna Shorts is Austria’s festival for short films, with experimental, animated, documentary and narrative work from around the world, shown at venues across the city. It is usually held in spring. Check the festival’s website for this year’s dates.
Concerts
Concert halls such as the Musikverein and Konzerthaus run full programmes in May, and Arena Wien and other venues host touring bands. Always buy from the official box office or venue to avoid resellers. For classical concert etiquette, see our guide to classical music events in Vienna.
Wine
Wine Weekends in the Region
In spring, wine regions near Vienna, such as Kamptal, Kremstal and Wagram, hold open-cellar weekends, where one ticket usually covers tastings at many wineries. Check the organisers’ sites for this year’s dates and prices.
Practical Tips for May
- Pack layers. May can be warm and sunny or cool and rainy. See our Vienna weather guide.
- Book hotels and big events early; May is a busy month.
- Note the public holidays. See our list of public holidays in Vienna.
- Read our guide to Vienna in May for more.
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I’m Andrea, a travel writer based between Vienna and the Croatian coast, and I’ve been exploring both countries in depth for the past 10 years.
I’ve taken 50+ solo trips across Austria, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy and the wider Balkans, and I speak German, Croatian and English fluently, which means I get to have conversations most tourists never do. I know which Viennese coffee house the locals actually go to (hint: not the famous ones), and I know the Dalmatian islands well enough to tell you which ferry to take and which to avoid.
My writing is grounded in lived experience: I’ve navigated Austrian bureaucracy as a resident, hiked the Julian Alps in September when the crowds have gone, and eaten my way through Dubrovnik’s back streets at midnight. I cover Central Europe and the Adriatic for solo travellers who want something more than a highlight reel.
I also write in depth about Vienna and Austria at allaboutvienna.com, where you’ll find everything from neighbourhood guides to seasonal event coverage and expat tips.
When I’m not writing I’m usually hiking, swimming in the Adriatic, or arguing about which city makes better coffee. (It’s Vienna. It’s always Vienna.)