In short: October 2026 in Vienna means the last days of the Kaiser Wiesn in the Prater (until 11 October), National Day on 26 October, the Viennale film festival (22 October to 3 November), the Erste Bank Open tennis (24 October to 1 November) and the start of Wien Modern on 30 October. Add new Sturm wine, the first chestnut stands and golden vineyards on the city’s edge, and it is one of the loveliest months to visit.
We are Prime Tours, a local, owner run team that has been showing people Vienna since 2016. This is our own October list: the big dates, the openings worth knowing about and the small things our guides actually do on their days off.
October 2026 in Vienna at a glance
| What | When | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiener Kaiser Wiesn | until 11 October | Kaiserwiese, Prater | Free entry during the day |
| Viennale film festival | 22 October to 3 November | Gartenbaukino, Stadtkino and more | Popular screenings sell out |
| Erste Bank Open (ATP tennis) | 24 October to 1 November | Wiener Stadthalle | Early rounds are easier to book |
| National Day | 26 October | Heldenplatz and city wide | Public holiday, many museums free |
| Wien Modern | 30 October to 30 November | Konzerthaus and venues city wide | Austria’s biggest new music festival |
| Autumn school holidays | 27 to 31 October | Austria wide | Busier museums, book ahead |
Last call for the Wiener Kaiser Wiesn (until 11 October)
Vienna’s own take on Oktoberfest runs on the Kaiserwiese in the Prater until 11 October 2026. Expect three big festival tents, five alpine style huts and around 150 concerts, from traditional folk music to party bands. Entry to the grounds is free during the day; tickets are only needed for the evening sessions in the tents.
Local tip: go on a weekday afternoon, then take a spin on the Giant Ferris Wheel next door as the lights come on. Afterwards, walk five minutes into the Prater’s chestnut lined Hauptallee, which turns gold in October, and finish with a coffee at the Lusthaus pavilion at its far end, a favourite of Vienna’s emperors long before it became ours.
The Viennale film festival (22 October to 3 November)
Austria’s leading film festival returns for its 64th edition from 22 October to 3 November 2026. Screenings take place in some of Vienna’s most atmospheric cinemas, including the Gartenbaukino on the Ring and the Stadtkino, so even if a film is not your thing, the venues are worth it. Book as soon as the programme is published on the official Viennale website.
Erste Bank Open tennis (24 October to 1 November)
Austria’s biggest ATP tournament brings top ranked players to the Wiener Stadthalle from 24 October to 1 November 2026. Tickets for the opening weekend and the first rounds are usually easier to get and still give you world class tennis at close range.
Austria’s National Day (26 October)
On 26 October Austria celebrates its National Day. The Austrian Armed Forces put on their traditional display on Heldenplatz, and many museums open with free admission, typically including the House of Austrian History and the Museum of Military History. The exact list changes a little each year, so check museum websites before you go. It is a public holiday, so most shops are closed, and the Ring around Heldenplatz gets crowded in the morning.
Wien Modern opens (30 October)
Austria’s largest festival for contemporary music, founded in 1988 by Claudio Abbado, opens at the Konzerthaus on 30 October and runs until 30 November 2026 at venues across the city. A great choice if you have already heard the Mozart and want to know what Vienna sounds like today.
New in town: three openings worth knowing
Sanatorium, the new bar from the Trummer brothers (the team behind Apotheke in New York), opened on 5 September in a passage off Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Platz with pharmacy inspired cocktails and the Ay-Vy Sushi Bar from Martin Ho’s group. For something calmer, the legendary Café Bräunerhof on Stallburggasse, once Thomas Bernhard’s favourite haunt, reopened in June 2026 under new owners and looks almost exactly as it always did. And in the 7th district, sophie7 brings a mostly vegetarian seasonal menu and a cocktail bar to the listed Kenyon Pavilion of the former Sophienspital. As with any new opening, check hours on their own channels before you go.
Our guides’ secret tips for October
- Drink Sturm while it lasts. This cloudy, half fermented young wine only exists for a few weeks each autumn. You will find it at Heurigen and at little stands around town; order it with a slice of chestnut or onion tart.
- Walk the vineyards. Take tram D to Nussdorf and walk up through the vineyards towards the Kahlenberg. In October the vines turn gold and the views over the city and the Danube are at their clearest.
- Follow the smoke. The first Maroni stands appear on the streets in October. A paper bag of hot roasted chestnuts is the most Viennese way to warm your hands.
- Beat the holiday crowds. Austria’s autumn school holidays run from 27 to 31 October, which together with National Day makes that week busy. Visit the big museums before then, or go first thing in the morning.
- Look up at the Gartenbaukino. Even if you skip the Viennale, step into the foyer of this 1960s cinema on the Ring. It is one of the best preserved post war interiors in the city.
Start your visit the way we would
With so much going on, the easiest way to get your bearings is still on foot. Our free walking tours of Vienna run daily and are a relaxed way to see the historic centre, hear the stories behind the buildings and get first hand tips from our guides on which of this month’s events are worth your time. Prefer something just for you? Have a look at our private tours in Vienna.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Vienna in October 2026?
Highlights include the final days of the Wiener Kaiser Wiesn in the Prater (until 11 October), National Day on 26 October, the Viennale film festival (22 October to 3 November), the Erste Bank Open tennis tournament (24 October to 1 November) and the opening of Wien Modern on 30 October.
Is anything free to do in Vienna in October?
Yes. Daytime entry to the Kaiser Wiesn grounds is free, many museums open without charge on National Day, the vineyard walks above Nussdorf cost nothing, and our free walking tours run every day.
What is the weather like in Vienna in October?
October is usually mild and dry in the first half of the month and cooler towards the end. Bring layers and a light jacket; evenings get chilly, especially in the second half of the month.
Is Vienna busy in October?
October is shoulder season and generally quieter than summer. The exception is the last week of the month, when National Day and the autumn school holidays bring extra visitors to the centre.
What is Sturm?
Sturm is partly fermented grape juice on its way to becoming wine. It is sweet, fizzy and only available for a few weeks in autumn, which is why the Viennese drink it the moment it appears.
October is the perfect month for Vienna’s darker side: join our Spooky Vienna ghost tour or the Terrible Crimes in Vienna tour, and toast the new vintage at our wine tasting in the city centre.
