The first balls in Vienna were held in the 18th century. Today, 450 balls are held in the city. The ball season runs during Carnival from 11 November to Shrove Tuesday in February, although others are scheduled throughout the year. Most balls are formal events where dancers wear a gown, tuxedo, or formal traditional Austrian dress. Traditional balls such as the Vienna Opera Ball open with debutantes performing a polonaise, followed by a choreographed waltz such as the Viennese waltz. Traditional ball etiquette also involves the use of dance cards and presentation of "Damenspenden", or spending gifts, to the young women attending the ball. In 2018, the Vienna Chamber of Commerce estimated over 500,000 people would attend a ball that season and spend on the events. The ball season has also attracted political controversy. The Vienna Ball of Sciences was founded in 2015 as an alternative to the Academics’ Ball, which was sponsored by the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria and is frequently protested.
Ball Location When Note Organizer url Wiener Rotkreuz Ball Rathaus November No longer held since 2022. Vienna Red Cross www.wienerrotkreuzball.at Hofburg Silvesterball Hofburg Palace December New Years Eve Dinner+Ball (tourism) Hofburg Palace www.hofburgsilvesterball.com Zuckerbaeckerball Hofburg Palace January Vienna Bakers and Confectioners www.zuckerbaeckerball.com Ball der Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien Hofburg Palace January Vienna University of Economics and Business www.wuball.at Steirerball Hofburg Palace January Steirer Association www.steirerball.com Ball der Offiziere Hofburg Palace January Military Officers Ball Theresian Military Academy www.ballderoffiziere.at Ball der Pharmacie Hofburg Palace January Less overcrowded - enough floorspace to waltz. Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists www.pharmacieball.at TU Ball Hofburg Palace January Vienna University of Technology TU Wien www.tu-ball.at Blumenball Rathaus, Vienna Mid-January Flower Ball Vienna City Gardners Jägerball Hofburg Palace last Monday in January Hunters Ball. Traditional costume mandatory Green Cross Association www.verein-grueneskreuz.at Wiener Akademikerball Hofburg Palace last Friday in January until 2012: "Ball des Wiener Korporationsringes" Vienna Academic Ball www.wiener-akademikerball.at Wiener Aerzteball Hofburg Palace last Saturday in January Medical Association of Vienna www.aerzteball.at Vienna Ball of Sciences Rathaus last Saturday in January www.wissenschaftsball.at BOKU-Ball Hofburg Palace February University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna www.bokuball.at IAEA-Ball Hofburg Palace February International Atomic Energy Agency https://iaeastaffassociation.org/ Hofburg-Ball der Wiener Wirtschaft Hofburg Palace February Vienna Business Ball Vienna Economic Association www.hofburg-ball.at Philharmonikerball Musikverein Elegant White Tie Cultural Event Vienna Philharmonic https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en/vienna-philharmonic-ball Techniker-Cercle Musikverein Ball of Industry and Technology Club Techniker-Cercle https://ball.techniker-cercle.at/ Immobilienball Hofburg Palace February www.immobilienball.at Wiener Kaffeesiederball Hofburg Palace February Extravagant traditional ball closely associated with the Viennese coffeehouse tradition Club of Viennese Coffeehouse Owners www.kaffeesiederball.at Regenbogenball Hofburg Palace February www.regenbogenball.at Vienna International Spring Ball Hofburg Palace March www.springball.at Vienna Opera Ball Vienna State Opera Fat Thursday government figures, international celebrities, debutants, wide televised coverage Vienna State Opera St. Johanns Club Ball Palais Liechtenstein late Spring St. Johanns Club/Jockey Club members, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, historical nobility Juristenball Hofburg Palace lawyers, judges, law students www.juristenball.at Rudolfina Redoute Hofburg Palace Shrove Monday ladies must wear masks www.redoute.rudolfina.at Elmayer-Kränzchen Hofburg Palace Shrove Tuesday Elmayer dance school www.elmayer.at Flüchtlingsball Rathaus first Saturday after Ash Wednesday Concordia Ball Rathaus summer (May or June) the oldest Viennese Traditional Ball Concordia Press Club www.concordiaball.at Life Ball Rathaus summer (May or June) biggest charity event in Europe supporting people with HIV or AIDS Gery Keszler
References
External links Austria.com: The Ball Season Vienna Ball Season 2026 Fodors.com: Things you need to know about Austria's ball season. AmazingAustria.com: Viennese Ball History VienneseBall.Org: Attire, Attending, Waltzing, Organizing, Music, Videos, Resources, Calendar of Viennese Balls in Europe and North America.