All the best culture and art events happening in Vienna right NOW & coming weeks

This exhibit is even in the calendars of those that hardly ever step foot in a gallery. With around 100 exhibitions around the world annually, the World Press Photo exhibition is the most popular traveling photo event in the world and will be displaying attention-grabbing photos at Westlicht gallery throughout September, October and the first week of November.

The poignant, moving images that are always guaranteed at this exhibition of photojournalism’s greatest shots of the year can be seen by anyone who has an interest in photography, or those that find the idea of reflecting on the last year of happenings around the world something they’d like to do.

Don’t be surprised if you leave with tears in your eyes, or full of inspiration.

Did you ever properly think about the historical meaning of the bell-ringing of churches? And how it was used as a tool of communication? No? Well, we neither, to be completely honest with you. But there’s very interesting research on this subject, which is the basis of the play ‘We had a lot of bells!’ Damian Rebgetz and the other performers and singers will take you on a historical journey of bell-ringing. And it’s not only incredibly informative but also quite amusing.

Stefanie Moshammer points her finger at something that everyone kind of knows but nobody wants to admit: the fast fashion industry. In her ongoing exhibition, she critiques and parodies the fashion industry and its followers. Get out to learn something you didn’t know you didn’t know. (You read that right…)

She was THE star back in the 1920s and for good reason. She was truly an inspiring woman, not only because of her success in the theatre and film industry but for her commitment to fighting for social justice throughout her time in exile in Zurich during World War I, during the turmoil of the Munich Soviet Republic and as a member of the Zagreb resistance against National Socialism. Follow this woman’s inspiring journey at this exhibition dedicated to her life.

At this exhibition, Albertina Modern gives you insight into an international dialogue of over a hundred artists in the art movements of abstract expressionism and informalism. The artworks shown have been created between the mid-1940s to the end of the Cold War. Definitely worth seeing the art world’s response to these times!

Werk X is showing you a musical by Johannes Schrettle and Imre Lichtenberger Bozoki: Horses. To not give too much away, the play revolves around the fears of society. Themes of longing, identity, binging (and horses too!) are explored through the musical styles of Pop, Rock, Funk, Punk and Jazz. Definitely a Musical that Vienna hasn’t seen yet!

This travelling exhibition (that’s right, it travels and you have to catch it) highlights the fight for equality for minorities throughout Austria’s history. Presented by the association Minderheiten, authors and activists show the struggles of minorities and their impactful protests in the past, present and what might come in the future.

Go to Albertina Modern to be blown away by these iconic photographs of people’s faces. (These ain’t no selfies!) They’re showcasing contemporary portrait photography by none other than Richard Avedon, Manfred Willmann, Nancy Lee Katz and Helmut Newton (and many more, actually). There’s no excuse to miss this!

Vienna’s English Theatre is presenting a play that fits perfectly with the colder and darker days ahead of us: Beginning, a piece by David Eldridge. It revolves around loneliness, broken dreams, and warm, fragile human connections. But don’t worry, you’ll find more than just sadness in there – there’s also lots of humour and relatability!

So Albertina has something really special up its sleeve this fall: Until January 8, you can visit the exhibition of Jean-Michel Basquiat. He is the perfect representative of art from the 80ies and the first ever world-famous artist with Afro-American-Caribbean roots. His work revolves around African heritage as well as problematic hierarchies in society.

ALSO, Albertina is open until 9pm on Wednesday and Friday. AND, if you’re under 19, you can get in for free! Yesss.

Whether you’re an artist striving for inspiration or you’re just ready to get swallowed by art: The Collaborations exhibition at MUMOK is where you’ll find everything you’ve been searching for. (Maybe not that missing sock you’ve been searching for but you know what we mean.) It shows various forms of togetherness, ‘from the love affair to the interconnectedness of life,’ as they say.

Good to know: You can get your ticket at a reduced price of only 7€ until September 20th!