The Stories Waiting Ahead
An evening of live music, food and special events across Vienna’s markets.
VOLXkino
Free open-air film screenings bring cinema to parks and public spaces across Vienna.
Independent designers present fashion, jewelry, art and handmade products at MuseumsQuartier.
My own Grätzl celebrates with two days of live music, food, local businesses and activities for children.
Austria’s largest vegan street food festival returns to the Danube Island.
A weekend dedicated to yarn, wool, textile crafts and the people who make them.
Publishers, authors and booksellers gather for a weekend of books, readings and conversations.
Vienna’s waste management service turns recycling and city cleaning into an unusual family festival.
Favoriten welcomes autumn with concerts, performances and cultural events throughout the district.
Long Nights of Interculturality
A week of films, discussions, performances and encounters between cultures.
A day of workshops, talks and networking for women interested in starting or developing a business.
Austria’s largest design festival fills venues across Vienna with exhibitions, installations and talks.
Buildings that are usually closed to the public open their doors for one weekend.
A free walk through Vienna’s vineyards, with city views, wine taverns and a badge waiting at the finish.
A final look at how Vienna makes the transition from summer holidays to the start of autumn.
A Few Things to Know
When It Happens
Throughout September 2026
Admission
Free, although some events require registration
September Vibes
Street festivals • Open-air cinema • Design • Vineyards
Good to Know
Food, drinks and selected workshops may cost extra
September Essentials
Comfortable shoes • Light jacket • Reusable water bottle.
September is Vienna’s way of letting summer end gradually. Students return to the city, holidays come to an end, and Vienna begins to fill up again. So forget “wake me up when September ends.” In Vienna, it is better to wake up when September starts.
The warm days are not necessarily over, and neither is the outdoor season. Markets stay open late, films are shown in neighborhood parks, and festivals move into vineyards, public squares and cultural spaces across the city. Many of these events are free to attend.
The program is not organized by the city alone. Local associations, cultural organizations, businesses and district initiatives all contribute to Vienna’s September calendar. Here are some of the best free things to do in Vienna in September 2026.
Event details can change, especially for outdoor programs. Check the official website shortly before your visit.
Lange Nacht der Wiener Märkte and Vienna Night Market at Brunnenmarkt
For one evening, Vienna’s markets stay open long after their usual closing time. All 17 permanent markets and three weekly markets are taking part, with more than 150 hours of music, performances, children’s activities, and other cultural events spread across the city.
One place worth singling out is Brunnenmarkt and Yppenplatz in the 16th district. The Vienna Night Market brings more than 70 independent labels, artists, and designers to Yppenplatz, accompanied by food stands and funk and soul DJs. You can explore Brunnenmarkt first and continue toward the Night Market as the evening gets busier.
Date and time: September 4, 2026. The official market program runs from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; the Vienna Night Market at Yppenplatz runs from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Location: 20 participating markets across Vienna. Vienna Night Market: Yppenplatz at Brunnenmarkt, 1160 Vienna.
Admission: Free. Food, drinks, and purchases from the stalls are not included.
Official information: Lange Nacht der Wiener Märkte
VOLXkino
VOLXkino turns parks, public squares, and residential neighborhoods into temporary open-air cinemas. Instead of asking the audience to come to one central venue, the screen moves through different parts of Vienna.
The September program includes screenings at Matznerpark, Meidlinger Platzl, Reithofferpark, Rudolf-Bednar-Park, Schweizergarten, Roter Berg, and other locations. The films range from Austrian productions and documentaries to recent international releases, often shown in their original language with German subtitles.
Dates and time: Several evenings from September 1 to 19, 2026. September screenings generally begin at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Different parks, squares, and neighborhood locations across Vienna. Check the program for the location of each film.
Admission: Free. No general registration is required.
Official information: VOLXkino 2026 program
WAMP Design Market
WAMP brings independent designers and small creative labels to the forecourt of the MuseumsQuartier. The market focuses on locally and internationally produced fashion, jewelry, accessories, art, and homeware, with the designers often selling their work themselves.
You do not need to buy anything to visit. It also works as a short stop while exploring the MuseumsQuartier and the surrounding seventh district.
Date and time: September 12, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: MuseumsQuartier forecourt, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna.
Admission: Free. Products purchased at the market are paid separately.
Official information: WAMP Vienna
Reindorfgassenfest
Reindorfgassenfest takes place in my Grätzl (neighborhood), which is why it has a special place on this list. For two days, Reindorfgasse fills with live music, DJ sets, readings, children’s activities, food trucks, and local businesses presenting their work across three stages.
Similar neighborhood festivals take place in other parts of Vienna throughout September. These include the Seestadt Street Festival on September 4, the Josefstädter and Währinger street festivals on September 18, and the Neubaugasse Flea Market on September 25 and 26. It is worth checking what is happening in the district where you are staying.
Date and time: September 11 and 12, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Reindorfgasse, 1150 Vienna.
Admission: Free. No registration is required.
Official information: Reindorfgassenfest 2026
Veganmania Donauinsel
Veganmania is one of Vienna’s largest plant-based food events. The Donauinsel edition combines vegan street food with live music, sports sessions, workshops, cosmetics, clothing, and information stands.
The festival is organized by the Vegan Society Austria. Its location beside the New Danube also makes it easy to combine the festival with a walk along the water if the weather is good.
Dates and times: September 18, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; September 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; September 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Donauinsel, near the U6 Neue Donau station, between the Floridsdorfer Bridge and Brigittenauer Bridge.
Admission: Free. Food, drinks, and products are not free. Some activities in the accompanying program are also offered at no charge.
Official information: Veganmania Donauinsel
Wollträume Wien
Wollträume Wien is a market dedicated to wool, yarn, and textile crafts. Exhibitors present hand-dyed yarn, natural fibers, knitting and crochet supplies, and work made with techniques such as spinning, weaving, felting, and lacemaking.
It is a specialized event, but you do not need to be an experienced knitter to visit. Demonstrations make it possible to see how some of these traditional crafts are practiced, while workshops offer a more hands-on experience.
Dates and time: September 19 and 20, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: myhive Wienerberg, Wienerbergstraße 11, 1100 Vienna.
Admission: Entry to the market is free. Individual workshops may require advanced registration and a fee.
Official information: Wollträume Wien
Ottakringer Buchmarkt
The first Ottakringer Buchmarkt brings 35 small and independent publishers from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary to the SOHO Studios. Visitors can browse fiction, nonfiction, essays, theater texts, and books for children and young adults that may not receive much shelf space in larger bookstores.
The program also includes readings and conversations with publishers and authors. It is a chance to discover how varied the German-language independent publishing scene is without entering a large commercial book fair.
Dates and time: September 19 and 20, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: SOHO Studios, Liebknechtgasse 32, 1160 Vienna.
Admission: Free.
Official information: Ottakringer Buchmarkt
48er-Mistfest (Vienna Waste Festival)
A festival organized by Vienna’s waste management department may sound unusual, but the 48er-Mistfest has become an established family event. The program combines live music and children’s activities with waste collection vehicles, exhibitions, demonstrations, and practical information about recycling, waste reduction, and the circular economy.
It is also an opportunity to see a part of Vienna’s everyday infrastructure that visitors rarely think about. The event takes place at the Hernals waste collection center and garage rather than at a conventional festival venue.
Dates and time: September 19 and 20, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Mistplatz and Garage Hernals, Richthausenstraße 2, 1170 Vienna.
Admission: Free.
Official information: 48er-Mistfest
Favorite Fall
Favorite Fall turns Vienna’s tenth district into a decentralized cultural festival for seven days. More than 60 events are planned across Favoriten, including concerts, exhibitions, readings, performances in public space, discussions, children’s activities, and walks that combine art, journalism, and augmented reality.
The festival connects existing cultural spaces and local initiatives instead of concentrating everything at one venue. This makes it a good reason to explore parts of Favoriten that many visitors do not see when they stay near Vienna’s historic center.
Dates and times: September 21–27, 2026. Times vary according to the event.
Location: Multiple venues and public spaces throughout the 10th district, including the Brotfabrik area, Reumannplatz, and other locations in Favoriten.
Admission: Most events are free. Check the individual program entry for possible registration or ticket requirements.
Official information: Favorite Fall 2026
Free Events During the Long Nights of Interculturality
The Long Nights of Interculturality brings together art, film, discussions, music, and cultural presentations from communities and organizations connected to Vienna. The 2026 theme, *Belonging Across Borders – Art as a Bridge*, focuses on identity, migration, and the ways art can create connections across national borders.
Several parts of the program, including selected discussions and exhibitions, are free with registration. However, the entire festival is not free: the *Costumes of the World* show at Vienna City Hall requires a paid ticket. Check each event separately before adding it to your plans.
Dates and times: September 21–27, 2026. Dates and starting times vary by event.
Location: Several venues in central Vienna. The exact address is listed with each event in the festival program.
Admission: Selected events are free, but advance registration may be required. Other events are ticketed.
Official information: International Cultural Diversity Organization
WIENERIN Gründerinnentag (Female Founders’ Day)
The WIENERIN Gründerinnentag is aimed at women who are developing a business idea, preparing to start a company, or already running one. The program includes talks, panel discussions, networking, practical workshops, and a live startup pitch.
Although this is not a typical tourist event, it belongs on the list for anyone interested in Vienna’s business and startup community. Some workshops are held in German, while the final workshop of the day combines English and German.
Date and time: September 22, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The main stage program begins at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Wiedner Hauptstraße 63, 1045 Vienna.
Admission: A free ticket is required. Workshops have limited capacity and require separate registration. The main stage program is also available by livestream.
Official information: WIENERIN Gründerinnentag 2026
Vienna Design Week
Vienna Design Week celebrates its twentieth edition in 2026 with exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops, and projects spread across the city. The festival looks at more than finished objects: its program also covers crafts, social design, the circular economy, architecture, and the role design plays in daily life.
This year’s headquarters occupies the former Allianz office building designed by Austrian architect Harry Glück. Visitors can explore former offices as well as the old cafeteria, garden, kindergarten, vehicle registration area, and even bowling alleys in the basement.
Dates and time: September 25 to October 4, 2026. The Festival Headquarters is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Festival Headquarters, Hietzinger Kai 101, 1130 Vienna, directly beside the U4 Unter St. Veit station. Additional events take place across Vienna.
Admission: Admission to the Festival Headquarters is free, and most festival events are also free. Some workshops, tours, or partner events may require registration or a fee.
Official information: Vienna Design Week 2026
Open House Wien
Open House Wien gives the public access to buildings and spaces that are normally closed or difficult to visit. In 2026, 53 locations are participating, ranging from residential projects and converted industrial buildings to social facilities, libraries, studios, and sites connected to Vienna’s current urban development.
Short tours are led by volunteers or specialists. Since places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, it is worth choosing a few priority buildings in advance rather than trying to cross the entire city in one day.
Dates and time: September 25–27, 2026. Participating locations are open on selected festival days from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: 53 buildings and open spaces in Vienna and a small number of locations in the surrounding region. Check the map for the opening day of each building.
Admission: Free and no advance registration is required. Capacity is limited, and entry follows the first-come, first-served principle.
Official information: Open House Wien 2026 program
Wiener Weinwandertag (Vienna Wine Hiking Day)
Vienna is one of the few capital cities with a significant wine-growing area inside its city limits. During the Wiener Weinwandertag, marked routes lead through vineyards in Mauer, Ottakring, Strebersdorf and Stammersdorf, and Neustift and Nussdorf.
You can complete an entire route or walk only a shorter section. Wine taverns and food stations operate along the routes, but the walk itself—and the views over Vienna—does not cost anything. If you complete a full route, you receive a small hiking badge at the finish. Collecting mine is always my favorite part of the day.
Dates and time: September 26 and 27, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Four main routes through Vienna’s wine-growing areas: Mauer; Ottakring; Strebersdorf and Stammersdorf; and Neustift and Nussdorf. All official entry and exit points can be reached by public transport.
Admission: Free. Wine, food, and other purchases at the taverns and refreshment stops are paid separately. No registration is required.
Official information: Wiener Weinwandertag 2026
Planning to join the Vienna Wine Hiking Day? Check out my complete Vienna Wine Hiking Day 2026 guide for all four routes, transport details, highlights and practical tips.
A Goodbye to Summer
September in Vienna does not feel like a sudden move from summer into fall. Outdoor films continue until the middle of the month, markets stay open after dark, and the final weekend brings people into vineyards, design spaces, and buildings that are usually closed to the public.
If you want to discover more of Vienna, take a look at my guide to free things to do in Vienna in summer, go on a lion hunt through the city] or start with my Vienna travel guide if this is your first visit.