Culture Calendar

Summer vibes all around? Yes, please. Long evenings and warm weather are the perfect setting for concerts, outdoor theatre performances and festivals of any kind. We cannot wait to dive right in.

FESTIVAL FOR SHORT FILM, ANIMATION & MUSIC VIDEOS, VIENNA (1 - 6 JUNE)

This is Austria’s biggest short film festival and an absolute must for short film buffs across the genres. It’s a great platform that showcases international short films with a maximum length of 30 minutes as well as featuring new talent from Austria and abroad. www.viennashorts.com

SOMMERSZENE, SALZBURG (12 – 24 JUNE)

When the Sommerszene Festival begins, Salzburg becomes an absolute hotspot for contemporary performance art. During these two weeks in June, the famous home city of musical genius Mozart welcomes artists and visitors from all over the world and does its reputation for presenting powerful, avant-garde, discursive and political dance performances justice. www.szene-salzburg.net

BLUES’N’JAZZ, RAPPERSWIL-JONA (16 – 18 JUNE)

Stellar performances by both international and local artists await the guests of the charming blues’n’jazz festival. It’s not only the musicians that make this event unique, but the spectacular backdrop of Lake Zurich also contributes to the magical vibe. Fabolous music, culinary treats at the market stalls and strolls along the promenade of the lake make it a perfect festival under the stars. www.bluesnjazz.ch

BALLET FOR EVERYONE, ZURICH (17 JUNE)

Get your picnic and bubbly ready: Each year in June, Zurich’s legendary opera house broadcasts a ballet performance live to an open-air stage on the city’s plaza Sechseläutenplatz. The event is free of charge and attracts over 12,000 people. This year will see Gaetano Donizetti’s comedy ‘Don Pasquale’ featuring a glittering cast brought live to the big screen on the plaza. www.opernhaus.ch

ZURICH PRIDE FESTIVAL (16 – 17 JUNE) www.zurichpridefestival.ch

This important festival is not only a massive vibrant party, but it also peacefully raises awareness and promotes LGBT+ rights. Initially, the festival started as Zurich’s Christopher Street Day, but it turned into Zurich Pride Festival in 2009. As the biggest of its kind in Switzerland, it brings thousands of supporters to the city to celebrate the LGBT+ community.

FÊTE DE LA MUSIQUE, BERLIN (21 JUNE)

Known across Europe, Fête de la Musique is a free music festival, which takes place in over 300 cities worldwide. Musicians, bands, orchestras, DJs and choirs of all kinds fill Berlin’s streets and celebrate the official start of the summer on the longest day of the year. Anyone who wants to organise a musical performance or plays an instrument can participate – but you’re also welcome to simply swing along and enjoy the music.

www.fetedelamusique.de

DONAUINSELFEST, DANUBE ISLAND, VIENNA (23– 25 JUNE)

The legendary music festival Donauinselfest turns the Danube Island into Vienna’s largest open-air stage once again and it is the biggest of its kind in Europe. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the free festival, which attracts tens of thousands of music enthusiasts to this picturesque setting by the river each year. www.donauinselfest.at

48 HOURS NEUKÖLLN, BERLIN (23 – 25 JUNE)

As its name suggests, this wonderful art festival takes place in Berlin’s district of Neukölln. The festival has been running since 1999 and is firmly established as a cultural highlight showing that Neukölln has much more to offer than one might expect. During the exciting 48 hours, various cultural institutions and associations show the artistic potential of this diverse neighbourhood and fully bring its arty side to life. This year’s theme is ‘playground’, and we can’t wait to see what the artists have in store.

www.48-stunden-neukoelln.de