The Republic of the arts

In 2024, Vienna, one of the five largest cities in the EU, experienced the rebirth of Europe's biggest crossover festival: the Vienna Festival was declared the Free Republic of Vienna. The proclamation of the Free Republic of Vienna took place in front of 36,000 people at the Cityhall Square with artists such as Pussy Riot and Elfriede Jelinek and was followed by the appointment of a 100-member council, including citizens from all parts of Vienna, but also artists like Annie Ernaux or Sandra Hüller.

During five weeks, 47 theatre, opera and music productions from all over the world as well as over 100 activist and art events took place in all parts of Vienna, the capital of modernism. The talk of the town were productions such as Florentina Holzinger's opera Sancta, the concert with the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Oksana Lyniv, the last play by René Pollesch and the Volksstück that toured the whole city.

The new revolutionary institutions, including a proper anthem and flag, caused the greatest stir, ranging from the much-discussed Vienna Trials to the Academy Second Modernism, the Council of the Republic to the installation of a permanent festival hub (the Club of the Republic).

Milo Rau and his fantastic team successfully 'staged an entire city' and 'created a Baroque world theatre' in Vienna in 2024. With Rau’s second festival edition set to revolve all around love, preparations for 2025 are now in full swing. From 16 May to 22 June 2025, Funkhaus on Vienna’s Argentinierstraße will serve as the centre of a Republic of Love. This 1930s building, historically and emotionally charged as it is, will be a vibrant location for artistic production, debates and parties, concerts and club nights as well as being home to the newly formed Band of the Republic — LUV — by Elia Rediger and int int irrit.

Reclaiming the Power of Love – But How?

The special series Revolutionary Love, curated by philosopher Srećko Horvat, will seek to reclaim history – intellectual, artistic, political – in order to inspire a vision of our times that embraces love as a powerful and indispensable force for revolution, featuring a wide array of the world’s leading philosophers, artists, activists and representatives of social movements.

On Stage in 2025

While most of the new season still remains under wraps, one project has already been unveiled: Nobel Prize laureate Elfriede Jelinek's legendary play Burgtheater, which has been banned from the stage for 45 years, will finally be performed at Burgtheater itself, directed by Milo Rau!

As part of the EARLY BIRD campaign, tickets for three selected productions are now available here. The full programme will be available on 28 February 2025. Stay tuned for more information!