16 things to do to make your February fantastic in Vienna

Playful, colourful, diverse and highly political. Just a few descriptions of the art style of the only Austrian female ‘pop artist’. Aside from paintings there will be ceramics, creative installations and soft performative acts which will have you rethink current societal issues. We suggest you let her art take you on that ride of critical thinking.

This collection represents around 100 different prints of international art trends starting from the year 1945. Many well known American and German pop and minimalist artists will be represented including Mr. Warhol himself. Don’t miss the chance to get a glance at those colourful, bright and original prints.

Have you ever been to a concert by yourself? In case you haven’t you should definitely consider that one day… or maybe THIS day? The motto of this concert ‘Alone, Not Alone’ is the perfect opportunity for you to attend a concert alone but not feel alone. Get out of your comforting shell and enjoy some great music by two amazing women. By yourself! Go do some exposure therapy for that ‘being alone’ fear.

Ever listened to accordion music? There is a whole festival of it. This is your chance to listen to the best of Austria’s newcomer accordion artists and talents who will step up on stage in various locations in Vienna and Lower Austria. Oh, and not to forget the harmonica will also make an appearance in addition to plenty of singing. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy this underrated genre.

Live, raw and unplugged. 8 artists each present two songs they’ve written. You along with a professional jury will decide who’s the best Austrian songwriter of 2023. Have a small taste of what Austrian songwriting has to offer and contribute to the decision of who wins. Sit down, listen and be inspired.

We definitely think it’s time for you to get back out there even though it is winter and cold. Fresh air and movement will have your endorphins flowing and put you in a happy glow-y mood. Who doesn’t want that? Go get your friends, family, maybe even a date or take yourself and put those fancy skates on your desperate feet. You will thank us later. Oh… and not to forget there are multiple ice rinks here in Vienna such as Wiener Eistraum, Wiener Eislauf-Verein, Kunsteisbahn Engelmann, Steffl Arena or Eisring Süd.

What’s better than a really good book and some hot chocolate when it’s super cold outside? Have you tried reading a really good book at a super cozy cafe and sipping your hot chocolate out of the side of your mouth so you don’t spill on your book? If not, you should because going places and treating yourself in winter is just as important as in summer. In case your only problem now is that you don’t know what to read or where to go we got you!

Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day this month! If this inspires a groan from the depths of your belly, then look away from this event tip and read on! However, if you’re the romantic type, or have somebody special in your life, we’d suggest you take our (of course, highly scientific!) quiz about what kitschy Vienna Valentine’s Day experiences you shouldn’t miss out on.

And hey all you singles! We didn’t forget you. There’s plenty of tips on how you, the lone wolf, can spend this – some say, commercial day hijacking love, some say, sacred day of sweetness that ends in a climax of some wild rooty tooty – day. Our random tip for more happiness: Get your lazy ass out of the house and check out these beautiful, colourful Viennese doors that will hopefully instantly boost your mood on this gray day.

Wild, crazy, colourful, fun-filled carneval – we are happy to have you back! We wouldn’t miss a chance to play dress-up for anything in the world, and neither should you. Whether you shake your ass in a David Bowie costume in a club or intend on being a drunk unicorn at a house party – this is the time of the year to let loose and simply have fun. And on top of that, delicious jam-filled Faschingskrapfen can be found at every other corner of this city. Oops, we just accidentally started drooling.

If you are lucky enough to have the time to travel to one of the traditional Faschingsumzüge in the rural parts of Austria, you should definitely go for it. Seeing those artfully crafted costumes and masks and wild figures who are trying to scare the winter away really is an experience of its own kind.

Tip: Many clubs offer a discount of entry if you come in costume – all the more reason to get in character

Some people love fighting while others are appalled at the idea of it. If you belong to the first camp, then watching a bunch of professional wrestlers at this Sunday’s WUW Underground Wrestling at Weberknecht promises to blast you into submission. There will be a couple of fights held at the venue with some live music afterwards. We recommend not getting too drunk and accidentally lurching into the ring. That might end badly for you.

The documentary ‘Transformiert euch!’ (transform yourselves) by Marie-Christin Rissinger is definitely not to be missed. It centres around individuals who put ending the use of non-renewable resources at the heart of everything they do. In large parts of society, the consensus that something has to change is already prevailing, but what form should this change take? Is it ‘just’ about climate change or do we actually need a bigger mental shift? And how can this change be achieved considering all the tension between civil society, business and politics?

This evening will raise a lot of very good questions we should ask ourselves more often. Plus, you are free to share your thoughts on the matter afterwards in the discussion with Marie-Christin Rissinger.

In some parts of Vienna, relics of the Second World War are still visible, just think of the big Flak towers at Augarten for instance. However, even 80 years later, some more minor ‘scars’ and other evidence of the air raids, like damaged house facades or marks in former air raid shelters, are still visible today if you just look close enough.

Archaeologist and historian Dr. Marcello La Speranza has long been tracking down these traces and shares his finding in a multi-visual lecture at Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, so if you’re up for some unique Vienna insights, this is your place to be on February 8th.

Hint: You need to sign up via e-mail beforehand, so make sure you don’t forget to register if you want to delve into the city’s past.

Let’s be honest, maybe Vienna isn’t the carnival capital of Austria (sorry folks, but Villacher Fasching goes harder), but this doesn’t mean you don’t get your healthy carnival overdose in our beloved city.

For the second time now, Messe Wien is turning into a carnival mecca, featuring comedians such as Max Mayerhofer aka MC MAX, Tricky Niki, or Walter Kammerhofer, hot concerts and spicy after show parties. There is only one thing we can say: Throw yourself in the wildest costume you can find and party like there is no tomorrow (uhm, okay, maybe there is a tomorrow, but who cares, have fun folks. Wiener Fasching is a great excuse to get shitfaced for six days straight).

The puppets are loose! When was the last time you took your kids to a puppet show? Well, with the weather outside being gray, cold and not so inviting to linger on playgrounds for like forever, it might be a good idea to do so now. Werk89 and Marionettentheater Schwandorf have put together a magical show at Dschungel Wien, taking you on a sail across the ocean to a fictious place called Nautica. See you there captains!

Make some noise! Uhm, okay, not like when you make some noise raving in a club. Director Manuela Infante actually wants OIL to make some noise in her play ‘Black Flame – a noise essay’ at Volkstheater. The whole play deals with the political implications of oil and if there are even ways to avoid being dependent on oil at all. Sounds complex?  Well, maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. There’s only one way to find out, so get your ass to Volkstheater on February 1st!