If you’re eyeing tickets for the Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert (Neujahrskonzert), the schedule and system are pretty fixed—and you’ll need to plan well ahead. Here’s how early you should book (or apply) and what to know:
🗓 Timeline: When to Apply & Book #
| Step | When It Happens | What You Need to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket Drawing Application | February 1–28 each year | You register online for the ticket lottery. Pick which of the three concerts (Dec 30 Preview, Dec 31 New Year’s Eve, or Jan 1 New Year’s Day) you want and in which price category. |
| Notification of Results | Early March | You’ll get an email telling you if you won the draw, with details of price category and how many tickets. |
| Payment Deadline | Usually in March (after you win the draw) | You must pay for the tickets by a given date to finalize your purchase. |
| Ticket Pickup | Starting first business day of October each year | Physical/digital tickets become available. For the Jan 1 concert especially, tickets are digital & personalized. |
✅ What This Means for You: How Early to Act #
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As soon as February 1 — be ready to apply the moment the drawing opens. If you miss that window, you likely won’t get a ticket through official channels.
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Don’t rely on “last-minute” official tickets: there are only about 900 tickets per concert available via the lottery, and demand far outstrips supply.
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Secondary market: It exists but is risky. Prices can be extremely inflated, and some offers may not be legitimate. The official site strongly warns against buying from unofficial resale platforms.