Looking for a truly unique way to ring in the new year? Vienna’s New Year's Eve events have vibrant energy, offering something special as the New year's eve countdown begins. From an indulgent sparkling wine breakfast to iconic midnight traditions, Vienna is the place to be for an unforgettable night. Start planning your New Year and see what makes Vienna’s celebrations so extraordinary – there’s no better way to answer the call for New Year’s Eve events near me! Many travellers either know too little about local events, or they are overwhelmed with the choice they are presented with. You should have it easier with my top list of the best things to do to celebrate the new year 2025/26 in my hometown.
1. New Year's Eve Events
Silvesterpfad Vienna (New Year's Eve Trail)
New Year's Eve In Vienna 2025/2026. Clearly, our annual grand street party Silvesterpfad ('New Year's Eve Path') celebrates New Year Eve in Vienna on the largest scale. Each year, the event lines up a dozen free open air New Year Eve concerts in Vienna's historic city centre. You can listen to everything from folk music, waltz and operetta to pop and rock tunes. Officially, the Silvesterpfad starts at 2.00 pm on 31st December. The whole pedestrian area and other historic squares turn into one big party area where tens of thousands of Viennese and visitors celebrate.
At the many New Year Eve booths in town people have tea, mulled wine, beer, champagne and warm food. Many booths sell New Year Eve lead casting kits, a popular Austrian tradition performed at midnight of the New Year. The largest fireworks are at Heldenplatz close to the Imperial Palace and at the Vienna Prater in front of the Ferris Wheel. If you have sensitive ears, consider wearing ear protection at those locations, and at Stephansplatz in front of Stephansdom.
My tip: The Viennese dancing schools provide free lessons in Vienna waltz dancing in front of Stephansdom between 2.00 pm and 4.30 pm.
New Year's Eve Fireworks
Few things are as uplifting as hearing the Pummerin, the grand bell of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, ringing in the new year. This bell only rings on special occasions, and its twelve midnight chimes are broadcast city-wide, accompanied by the stirring strains of the Blue Danube Waltz. Join locals at Stephansplatz to experience the Viennese tradition of waltzing your way into the New Year.
Date: December 31, 2025 - January 1, 2026
Location: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Stephansplatz, Vienna
Time: Midnight
2. Best New Year's Eve Dinners In Vienna
New Year's Eve Dinner And Midnight At The High Casemate At Coburg Palace
This two-Michelin-star restaurant offers an exceptional fine dining experience in the luxurious Palais Coburg hotel. Ring in the new year with culinary excellence as Silvio Nickol presents an exceptional seven-course tasting menu showcasing the finest creations of 2025. Set within the refined atmosphere of his renowned gourmet restaurant, every dish represents a carefully crafted masterpiece, complemented by expertly selected wine pairings. The evening begins with a welcoming aperitif and concludes with an elegant culinary keepsake to mark the occasion. This sophisticated dining experience is perfect for those seeking to celebrate the arrival of the new year in style.What's more, the restaurant has access to 60,000 bottles in its six wine cellars.
At midnight, guests gather in the High Casemate – a place of historical depth and festive energy- to welcome the new year, along with music, dancing, and a bar.
Date: December 31, 2025, 7 am
Location: Palais Coburg, Coburgbastei 4, 1010 Vienna
Price: EUR 985 per person; optional - rare wine pairing EUR 700 per person
Bookings: reservations@palais-coburg.com
New Year's Eve Above The Rooftops
New Year's Eve In Vienna 2025/2026. Celebrating New Year's Eve at Das LOFT means welcoming the new year from the 18th floor of SO/ Vienna, where a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view places the entire glittering cityscape at your feet. The evening offers a sophisticated blend of culinary excellence and entertainment, with Big John and his band providing soul and jazz music until 11pm, followed by a special musical surprise act at midnight, and then award-winning resident DJ Ayman Awad keeping the dance floor alive into the early hours with the hottest house mixes. Guests can choose from different packages starting at €280 per person, which include champagne, premium window seating with views toward the Prater, and a snack of oysters and beef tartare, making it an experience that combines world-class views, exceptional food and drink, live entertainment, and the electric energy of Vienna's most exclusive rooftop venue as fireworks light up the sky around you.
Date: December 31, 2025
Location: Praterstraße 1, 1010 Vienna
Price: Window table with a view of St. Stephen's Cathedral: EUR 780 per person; second row: EUR 780 per sperson; children up to 18 years: EUR 495 per person
Bookings: book online
Dinner Ride In A Vintage Car
Your evening starts at Neuer Markt 5 in central Vienna, where you'll meet your driver-guide and settle into a table set up inside an electric vintage car - with a fantastic suspension! The table includes candlelight, glassware, and a chilled bottle of Grüner Veltliner. During the 90-minute tour, you'll have a two-course dinner featuring Austrian and seasonal dishes, along with water. As you eat, the car travels gently through Vienna's historic center, passing more than 30 lit landmarks such as Hofburg Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, City Hall, and the Albertina. Your guide provides commentary on the city's history, culture, and architecture. The tour returns to Neuer Markt at the end. The combination of candlelight, city views, and dinner makes it suitable for couples or special occasions.
Date: December 31, 2025, flexible bookings
Location: Neuer Markt 5, 1010 Vienna
Bookings: book tickets
New Year At The Imperial Palm House
The Palmenhaus in Vienna's Burggarten was originally built in 1822 as a private imperial greenhouse under Emperor Franz I, then replaced in 1901 with the current Art Nouveau structure Inside, you'll find abundant greenery and a distinctive jungle-like atmosphere—enhanced by the neighboring butterfly house. Especially during the colder months it feels warm and cozy there. For New Year's Eve, the venue offers an exclusive multi-course gala menu for €230, featuring dishes such as scallops, sea bass, prawns, organic beef sirloin, and porcini mushroom pockets. Dinner service begins at 7 PM, and at midnight, guests waltz on the terrace while watching fireworks over the city center.
Date: 31 December 2025 from 7 pm
Location: Burggarten 1, 1010 Vienna
Reservation: www.palmenhaus.at
3. New Year's Eve Concerts In Vienna
Vienna's best classical orchestras like the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra perform New Years Eve concerts. In addition, there are regular classical concerts taking place on the 31st December, and a few contemporary concerts. Read more in New Years Eve Concerts.
a. Die Fledermaus at the Vienna State Opera
New Year's Eve In Vienna 2025/2026. The operetta Die Fledermaus (The Bat) is a long New Years Eve tradition in Vienna. Die Fledermaus is hugely popular because it is hilariously funny and full of catchy tunes. Many Vienna balls play the famous Fledermaus quadrille at midnight. In essence, this famous operetta by Johann Strauss II revolves around a humorous series of events involving mistaken identities and romantic entanglements at a lavish masquerade ball in 19th-century Vienna. It's a lighthearted and comedic work known for its beautiful waltz music and witty libretto, capturing the essence of Viennese operetta tradition. In fact, some of the operetta lyrics are even referenced in our everyday language. The best way to watch this popular operetta is at a local opera house. At Volksoper, there are still tickets available.
Performances: 31st December 2025, 1.30 pm; 07.00 pm
Tickets: tickets for the evening show; tickets for the afternoon show.
b. Vienna Philharmonic Concert at the Musikverein
The New Year's Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the Musikverein is one of the most prestigious and celebrated events of the year, drawing worldwide audiences. Few people know that the orchestra performs this cherished program three times: a “preview performance”, the Silvesterkonzert, and the renowned New Year’s Concert. Each concert features the same program, offering more people the chance to enjoy this spectacular musical tradition.
Dates: 30 December (Preview performance), 31 December (A Silvesterkonzert), 1st January (The New Year’s Concert)
Location: Musikverein, Vienna.
Tickets: email me at barbara.cacao(at)vienna-unwrapped.com
c. Concert at Minoritenkirche
Why not spend the afternoon of New Year Eve in the company of conductor Mario Hossen along with the music of violinists and composers Johann Strauss and Fritz Kreisler? Specifically, Maestro Hossen loves to connect with audiences, bringing a fresh perspective to traditional repertoire. He will be accompanied by Les Orpheistes Orchestra, known for its versatility, performing a wide range of works from the classical repertoire to contemporary compositions.
The program will unfold the tunes of Old Viennese Dances, Roses from the South (waltz), the Pizzicato-Polka and Strauss' iconic Blue Danube Waltz. The Minoritenkirche church's serene atmosphere enhances the enchantment of this concert, allowing audiences to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of classical music.
Date: 31st December, 2025
Time: Starts at 4 PM
Location: Minoritenkirche, Minoritenplatz 1, 1010 Vienna
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Tickets: Book Here (Note: Vienna Unwrapped readers receive an exclusive 10% discount with the code UNWRAPPED.)
Free Cancellation: Cancel anytime up to 24 hours before the concert for a full refund.
Reserve now & pay later: Book your spot today and pay later.
d. Vienna Gala at the City Hall
New Year's Eve In Vienna 2025/2026. Celebrate the new year with a glamorous ball and gala dinner at the Viennese's own town hall. The neo gothic building and halls are a fantastic and authentic place to dine, waltz, and 'chin-chin' your glasses to live orchestra tunes of Vienna waltz king Johann Strauss, and a modern live band.
A few dozen young Viennese debutants dressed in white and black will open the ball. Half an hour before midnight international soloists will sing the best songs from Viennese operettas my local grandparents and mum loved so much. At midnight it's your turn to dance the midnight waltz. The warm buffet is cooked up by the town hall's popular historic tavern, the 'Wiener Rathauskeller'. Highlight of the evening: At midnight you can step out on the balcony of the town hall with a glass of champagne to watch the fireworks, while the Blue Danube Waltz is being played.
Date: 31st December 2025, from 6.30 pm
Location: Vienna City Hall (Wiener Rathaus), Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna
Admission: Get tickets for the New Year's Eve in Vienna Gala.
4. Best New Year Market in Vienna
Set against the majestic backdrop of the Schönbrunn Palace, the Schönbrunn New Year Market is a beautiful way to end the year. The market features stalls offering handcrafted gifts, gourmet delicacies, and cosy treats. You can enjoy a glass of mulled wine or hot chocolate as they stroll through the park. It’s a great place to pick up last-minute souvenirs or just enjoy the festive vibe before ringing in the New Year.
Location: Schönbrunn Palace, Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna
5. Explore More New Year's Eve Activities
Looking for what to do on New Year's Eve in Vienna? If you're looking for more ways to celebrate, there’s no shortage of unique and exciting activities to enjoy. Let’s see more options to make your New Year's Eve in the Austrian capital truly unforgettable.
New Year's Eve On A Danube Yacht
While most boat operators hibernate during the winter, some small yachts are ready to cruise around Vienna, and even to Bratislava. In two to four hours your private skipper takes you around the Vienna Danube and Danube Canal to the city's outer rims. At midnight, prepare to see the New Year's fireworks at nearby Prater and at City Hall. Alternatively, get back on shore just before midnight and celebrate with the locals.
Location: Meet at Handelskai 269, 1020 Vienna
Price: from EUR 967 per group
Bookings: book online
Traditional Wiener Silvesterlauf
New Year' Eve In Vienna 2024/2025. In Vienna, good luck traditions for new year's eve charm like pig figurines, chimney sweeps, and four-leaf clovers are New Year’s staples. Before New Year Eve fully unfolds join a fun local tradition: Each year, almost 5,000 people run, walk or Nordic-walk around Ringstrasse boulevard at the annual Viennese New Year Eve Race Wiener Silvesterlauf. Since the 3.3 mile track leads past dozens of splendid historic buildings and you are welcome to walk you can fully enjoy the show. Actually, a few participants either wear typical signs of good luck such as pig costumes and 4-leaf clovers or dress up as cartoon characters. What's more, you will hear Johann Strauss' Blue Danube Waltz as the event kicks off. And each year, some locals can't help waltzing to it!
While the fastest runners take 16 to 19 minutes, everyone else can take as long as 1.5 hours to make the circuit. At the end of the event the winners will receive their medals in the University's main auditorium, along with the winners for the most original costumes. . It’s a fun way to embrace Viennese traditions and spread good fortune as you welcome the new year.
Date: 31st December 2025, 11.00 am
Location: Ringstrasse, Universitätsring 1, in front of University of Vienna
Admission: EUR 18 to EUR 22; register online
- Need help? Visit Vienna Travel Planning
- Explore More Things To Do In Vienna December
- Visit Vienna Tourism Calendar
