Autumn dedicated to art
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Vienna has long been regarded as a breeding ground for contemporary art. Vienna’s autumn of art (Kunstherbst) is the perfect time to truly enjoy this panoply. Numerous art events invite visitors to embark on an exciting journey of discovery. A chronological overview.
Art fairs to kick off the season
Austria’s largest gallery festival sets the stage for a spectacular start: Curated by, which brings together 24 established and emerging Viennese galleries for a month. Curators from all over the world have been invited once again. This year’s theme is “fragmented subjectivity”. After that, the events continue in quick succession – in the second week of September, the Viennacontemporary art fair takes place. This international art fair is once again held at the Halle D at Messe Wien. Around 90 galleries are taking part again this time around. The fair focuses on digital reality and – as in recent years – on Central and Eastern Europe, women’s art, as well as works from the late 20th century.
Taking place at the same time, as is the case every year, is Parallel Vienna, a hybrid of art fair, exhibition platform and artists’ studio. This year’s edition of Parallel Vienna remains true to its motto – empty buildings serve as a platform for art. Like last year, the event is hosted in three pavilions at the Otto Wagner Areal in Vienna’s Penzing district. Both art fairs also attract visitors with a varied program of supporting events. The first edition of the Vienna Highlights Art Fair celebrates its premiere this fall on the ground floor and first floor of the Austrian National Library. Selected works by Austrian and international artists are on display.
Design highlights
If you are looking for even more art enjoyment during Vienna’s art-filled autumn, be sure to also check out related events in Vienna. The Vienna Design Week is taking place for the 19th time. Once again, there is a packed schedule of events including exhibitions, installations, guided tours, and workshops. This year’s festival headquarters is located at Wiedner Hauptstraße 52. Instead of a traditional focus district with a central theme, this year features neighborhood focal points and a program with an international outlook. Two more design highlights await in Vienna this autumn: Design District transforms the Vienna Hofburg once again into a world of design experiences. 250 leading national and international brands are showcased over an area of 7,500 square meters. They present the latest trends in design, real estate, automotive, interior, lifestyle, technology, and art. Style enthusiasts can also look forward to Blickfang Wien 2025, showcasing unique design products from around 150 carefully curated furniture, fashion, and jewelry labels from all over Europe. The exquisite pieces are on display at the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts.
During the Long Night of Museums culture-loving night owls can once again explore museums across the city as numerous museums and galleries open their doors until midnight on October 4. Only one ticket is needed for admission to all the participating institutions and events. Autumn also offers a comprehensive program for photography enthusiasts – Foto Wien is Austria’s largest photography festival and takes place every two years. This year, the new Foto Arsenal Wien serves as the festival headquarters for the first time. In addition to its main venue, the festival features additional locations spread across Vienna. This year, everything revolves around the motto “dynamic futures”. In November, the Rotlicht Festival for Analog Photography brings together the local and international analog photography scene for ten days. The festival headquarters is the Atelierhaus of the Academy of Fine Arts (also known as Semperdepot). This year, the festival is dedicated to the question of whether and how life after death might be possible.
All of Vienna is art
That’s not all, though – throughout the autumn of art, numerous other art fairs take place at exciting venues across the city. For the eighth time, the Fair For Art Vienna provides an exclusive platform for modern and contemporary art during Vienna’s autumn of art. The art and antiques fair is organized by the Association of Austrian Antique and Art Dealers and held on three levels in the Aula der Wissenschaften. Anyone wishing to discover Vienna anew on foot through art should try the Vienna City Gallery Walk. In October, guided tours through Viennese galleries, talks, and exhibitions will be made accessible to the public free of charge. With its unique appearance, the Semperdepot also hosts another exhibition in November: the Paper Positions Vienna takes place in Vienna for the second time. The exhibition focuses on drawings and highlights paper as a fragile medium, showcasing its unique qualities and diversity.
At the end of autumn, two annual highlights await all art enthusiasts: Vienna Art Week once again takes place with around 70 program partners throughout the city. The festival offers a wide range of art from the Baroque period to the present day, all with free admission. Major museums are involved, as well as newly discovered artist studios. This year’s Vienna Art Week focuses on learning as a dynamic process of recognition, unlearning, and rethinking. In addition, the Vienna Hofburg is once again being transformed into an exhibition venue for the Art&Antique fair. This event provides space for around 40 national and international art dealers and galleries. A great variety of art, antiques, and design will be presented – from paintings to furniture and crafts, all the way to jewelry, carpets, and Art Deco.
Discover even more contemporary art in Vienna
An overview of Vienna’s autumn of art
- Curated by: Sep. 9 – Oct. 4, various participating galleries, www.curatedby.at
- Parallel Vienna: Sep. 10 – 14, Otto Wagner Areal, www.parallelvienna.com
- Viennacontemporary: Sep. 11 – 14, Messe Wien, Hall D, www.viennacontemporary.at
- Vienna Highlights Art Fair: Sep. 19. – 21, Austrian National Library, www.highlights.info
- Vienna Design Week: Sep. 26. – Oct. 5., www.viennadesignweek.at
- Fair for Art Vienna: Sep. 27 – Oct. 5, Aula der Wissenschaften, www.fairforart-vienna.at
- Design District: Oct. 3 – 5, Hofburg, www.design-district.at
- Long Night of Museums: 4.10., www.langenacht.orf.at
- Foto Wien: Oct. 4 – Nov. 2, various locations, www.fotowien.at
- Vienna City Gallery Walk: 8. – 11.10., 1. 1st district, www.gallerywalk.at
- Vienna Art Week: Nov. 7 – 14, various locations, www.viennaartweek.at
- Blickfang Vienna: Nov. 7 – 9, MAK, www.blickfang.com
- Art&Antique: Nov. 13 – 17, Hofburg, www.artantique-hofburg.at
- Paper Positions: Nov. 13 – 16, Atelierhaus of the Academy of Fine Arts (Semperdepot), https://www.paperpositions.com/de/staedte/wien
- Rotlicht Festival for Analog Photography: Nov. 21 – 30, Atelierhaus of the Academy of Fine Arts (Semperdepot), www.rotlicht-festival.at
