Of course, the MuseumsQuartier is in every tourist guide. But the Viennese like the former imperial court stables as well, where they meet up in summer to chat, hang out, drink beer, and play boules. The MuseumsQuartier has turned into the open-air living room of the city. Lounging on the famous MQ furniture – which comes in a different color every year – and just looking skywards. This is called relaxing the Viennese way. Vienna is all about culinary delights this year under the motto Vienna Bites, and the colours of the MQ furniture this year are inspired by it too: they glow in Punschkrapferl pink and soda-lemon yellow.

Anniversary Year under the Motto “Generation MQ”

Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier (MQ) is one of the largest cultural districts in Europe. The mix of large museums, small cultural initiatives and trendy bars and restaurants is a success story. After visiting a museum, you can find yourself a cozy spot in the convivial dining gardens or on the stylish MQ furniture in the courtyard of the MuseumsQuartier, play a round of boules or enjoy an ice cream from Veganista. The project initially polarised opinion. A reading tower originally planned by the architects Ortner & Ortner had to be scrapped due to massive opposition. Today, MQ is an easily accessible public space for people of all ages. To mark its anniversary, it will tell a long, open story of a community of people who see MQ itself as a living work of art.

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Highlights from the anniversary programme:

• Exhibition “Vision and Resistance – How MuseumsQuartier Changed Vienna” at MQ Freiraum (June 30, 2026 – January 25, 2027)
• KinderKulturParcours: On May 30, a big children’s and family festival will take place across the entire site. MQ and the institutions will offer a wide-ranging programme of activities all day long, with free admission.
• Hof Kunst Fest to mark the 25th anniversary of MQ on July 2, featuring a programme of readings, concerts, guided tours and artistic interventions that extends across the entire site. Also on the programme: O-Töne with Dimitri Dinev & Band, a re-enactment by Peter Sandbichler, Doris Uhlich with a solo performance, and many more.
• Symposium “Museums Shape the Future” on September 29, focusing on key future issues in museum operations: International and Austrian experts will discuss topics such as the role of art and science, future visions for museums, and the aim of actively helping to shape social participation together with cultural professionals.

MQ Summer Stage

From late May to September, numerous events and concerts will once again take place on the new, green Summer Stage at MuseumsQuartier. The stage is enclosed by an urban garden with an abundance of plants. The summer stage will open on May 21, 2026. Starting on June 3, the MQ Tunes music series will present young, up-and-coming bands from Austria.

MQ Libelle viewing terrace

The MQ Libelle affords the best views of the city. The roof terrace atop the Leopold Museum is accessible to the public via two elevators. There are plenty of seating areas and the rooftop bar called “Zur Libelle” serves a wide range of negroni drinks, cocktails, wines, juices and light snacks such as champagne and truffle Leberkäse. MQ Libelle is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm, from April 15 to October 31.

The mini-golf sculpture park MQ Amore is also popular. On the square in front of the MQ, artists have created twelve sculptures in the form of mini-golf courses. Open from March until October, Mo-Fr 12.00 noon - 10.00 pm, Sa-Su & hols. 10.00 am - 10.00 pm

© WienTourismus/Julius Hirtzberger

Looking at art & film

Numerous museums in the MQ invite you to pay them a visit: the Leopold Museum owns the world's largest Egon Schiele collection, there's contemporary art at the mumok – Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna and at the Kunsthalle Wien. The Austrian Architecture Museum is also exciting.

The O-Töne Literature Festival organizes high-caliber open-air readings every Thursday from July 9 to 27 August, 2026. Movie fans also get their money's worth: The frame[o]ut film festival provides audiovisual surprises every Friday and Saturday at 10 pm, from July 18 to September 6 2026, on the open-air cinema screen at MQ.