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Light as leaves of paper. Until the early morning. And not only the waltz.
As in previous years, the program of the 2026 Concordia Ball offered great variety, including elegant dances in the halls of Vienna’s City Hall, a cheerful atmosphere at the Disco Dancefloor in the Arcade Courtyard, and the traditional Fledermaus-Quadrille at midnight. At 8:00 pm, the Town Hall opened its doors to the Concordia Ball, followed by the traditional opening ceremony in the City Hall Ballroom (Festsaal). From then on, it was 'Alles Walzer'! Party on! until 4am, the Concordia Ball offered the best of modern Viennese ball culture with guests from all over the world. We look forward to celebrating journalism and press freedom with you! Come and join us on 21 May 2027! |
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The Program for the 2026 Concordia Ball8.00pm
DOORS OPEN 9.30pm OPENING CEREMONY IN THE FESTIVAL HALL Presenter: Lou Lorenz-Dittlbacher Program presenter: Dance Master Chris Lachmuth Concordia Opening Fanfare for free journalism, Pavel Singer Entrance of the Debutants and Debutantes, Accelerationen, Johann Strauss (the Son) Opening Interlude with The Wiener Comedian Harmonists Ball Opening, Morgenblätter, Johann Strauss (the Son) FESTIVAL HALL 10.00pm Dancing Pleasure with the Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra conducted by Oliver Ostermann & the pt art Orchestra conducted by Norbert Hebertinger 11.15pm Dancers’ Corner with professional dancers Midnight Quadrille with Dance Master Chris Lachmuth 1.15am Dancers’ Corner with professional dancers 2.00am Quadrille with Dance Master Chris Lachmuth ARCADE YARD 10.00pm Disco Floor with DJane Colette 11.00pm Live Soul- and Disco-Show with The Bad Powells with special guest Andie Gabauer 01.00am Live Soul- and Disco-Show with The Bad Powells with special guest Andie Gabauer COAT OF ARMS HALL 10.00pm A tribute to Günther Schifter with the Shellac-DJs Sandra & Axel playing hits from the 1920s to the late 50s SENATE CHAMBER 10.00pm Boogie Woogie & Evergreens with the Charly-Hloch-Trio 3.45am BALL CLOSING CEREMONY IN THE FESTIVAL HALL The Blue Danube Walz (Johann Strauss, the Son) Radetzky-March (Johann Strauss, the Father) Brüderlein fein (Joseph Drechsler) Sag‘ beim Abschied leise Servus (Peter Kreuder 4.00am END OF THE EVENT |
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Dancers' Corner
Set a course for the "Dancers' Corner"! The dancers are waiting for you!
Have you ever wondered how it feels to dance with a professional dancer? For almost a century the "Tanzinsel" has been a unique feature at the Concordia Ball. Come to the Festival Hall from 11:15pm to midnight and 1:15am to 2:00am, and you will find a group of fantastic dancers who cover the whole range, from Waltz to Foxtrot and from Tango to Cha-Cha. We recommend it for all those who are in the mood for dancing, but their dance partners need a break, have two left feet, or are caught up in inspiring conversations. For all those who, as My Fair Lady said, "I could have danced all night!" |
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Artists & Musicians Lou Lorenz-Dittlbacher
Lou Lorenz-Dittlbacher has been editor-in-chief of Austria’s public service broadcaster ORF-III since 2022. Before taking over this position, she had served as anchor of the primetime news programme "Zeit im Bild 2" for over ten years. Lorenz-Dittlbacher is one of the country's leading journalists and has received numerous awards, including the Axel Corti Prize in 2021, a Romy award in the category “Information” in 2022, and the Media Lioness award in Gold from the Austrian Women Journalists’ Congress. Chris Lachmuth: Dancing School Chris Dance has been part of this former tournament dancer's life since childhood. Together with the Dancing School Chris, he will stage the impressive Opening Ceremony of the Concordia Ball. The Dancing School Chris offers year-round and daily opportunities to learn – or simply improve – one of the most famous traditional dances. Laszlo Gyüker: The Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra The Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra, founded in 1982 and directed by Laszlo Gyüker, devotes itself to performing dance music of the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and around the world. The orchestra's repertoire includes compositions from the Strauss dynasty and its contemporaries, music from Robert Stolz and popular pieces from operettas. The orchestra has performed in most major European cities, as well as around the world. The Wiener Comedian Harmonists Five outstanding singers from the Vienna State Opera Choir, accompanied by a pianist, breathe new life into the timeless sound of the legendary Comedian Harmonists of the 1920s and '30s. Through faithful arrangements and the utmost stylistic precision, not to mention a generous dose of Viennese charm, they transport their audience back to the golden age of entertainment music: Timeless, elegant and captivating. Simone Bernert Simone Bernert has been working as a visual artist since 1989. In her work, she often combines different art forms to inspire and provoke the audience. Once again this year, Bernert has designed the debutantes' headdresses as an artistic intervention and created them by hand. Each individual piece is unique. Pavel Singer Pavel Singer is an Austrian composer, pianist and arrangeur of Russian-German descent. He received his extensive musical training at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. In his internationally performed and award-winning works, Singer combines different styles and techniques, resulting in a unique and innovative artistic expression. Norbert Hebertinger: The pt art Orchestra Since 1924, the pt art Orchestra has been synonymous with musical diversity, passion and the highest level of professionalism. Originally founded as Postmusik Linz, the orchestra performs on national and international stages under the direction of Norbert Hebertinger, with ensembles ranging from trios to 60-piece symphony orchestras. For over 100 years, the pt art Orchestra has been winning the hearts of guests and ensuring that every ball evening is a special experience. DJane Colette Martina Schwabenitzky, also known as DJane Colette, effortlessly combines elegance with driving rhythms, bridging the gap between classically inspired grooves, timeless disco hits and modern electronic sounds. With her keen sense of mood and audience, she creates uplifting, surprising and danceable sets. Her musical signature has been shaped by international performances and many years of experience. Martina is also a trained actress and singer. The Bad Powells Since their foundation at the turn of the millennium, 'The Bad Powells' have been a shining fixed star in the musical firmament: with an irresistible mixture of musical perfection and maximum fun factor, they take the ball audience on a journey through time into the heart of the lifestyle of the disco era with a lot of love for the original and maximum danceability. The Bad Powells' offer a pure show – but always with a little wink... Shellac-DJs Sandra & Axel Driven by their passion for ballroom dancing and music, especially swing, Sandra Hartbach and Axel Schwarz have been active as a dance couple, teachers, DJs and event organisers for over two decades. As shellac DJs, they specialise in original 78 rpm records. With their unique collection of over 10,000 recordings from the 1920s to the 1950s, Sandra & Axel create an authentic and thrilling dance experience. Charly Hloch Trio Charly Hloch on piano, Tom Müller on sax and Wolfgang Bäck on drums bring you boogie woogie, blues, rock'n'roll and, especially for the Concordia Ball, danceable, groovy, jazz classics and swinging evergreens. |
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Opening Committee
The Debutantes of the Concordia Ball like to indulge in beautiful memories. The performance of the debutante ladies and gentlemen is not only the highlight of the opening ceremony, but also an exciting opportunity for exchange and the foundation of new friendships.
We welcome your immediate application for becoming part of the glamorous opening ceremony of Vienna's most beautiful summer ball. 
Debutantes at the Concordia Ball – Photo Credits APA/Martin Hörmandinger
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Requirements:
Dress code per couple: Floor-length snow-white ball gown, white shoes and Tuxedo (white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie), black patent leather shoes, black socks, white gloves Get-together and first ball rehearsal on Wednesday, 15 April 2026 at 6.30pm at the Concordia Press Club: All debutante ladies and gentlemen are invited to enjoy music and a welcome drink in the premises of the Concordia Press Club. This will be followed by the first ball rehearsal. The Concordia Press Club is located at Bankgasse 8, 1010 Vienna. The entry contribution accounts for € 25,00 per person and must be paid at the get-together or alternatively before the first ball rehearsal. It ensures participation in the rehearsals. The young ladies and gentlemen can enjoy the ball till the closing time at 4am. Debutantes receive vouchers for food and beverages and the young dames may retain their tiaras. Opening couples can enjoy the ball till the closing time at 4am, receive vouchers for food and drink, and young ladies can keep their specially designed headdresses. Rehearsal dates at Dancing School Chris To enable all dancers to participate, several rehearsal dates are offered on different days at different times. At least three rehearsals are mandatory. These can be selected freely and must be confirmed when registering. Select your preferred rehearsal dates form the list below: Sunday, 19 April 2026, 4pm Thursday, 23 April 2026, 6pm Sunday, 26 April 2026, 4pm Saturday, 9 May 2026, 4pm Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 4pm Sunday 17 May 2026, 4pm The dancing school Chris is located in Wehlistrasse 150, 1020 Vienna. Mandatory final rehearsal at the Vienna City Hall (Festival Hall) on Thursday, 21 May 2026 from 7 - 8.30pm. Register with your dance partner for the entry committee and look forward to a glittering ball night. The lively and varied choreography from the Dancing school Chris is sure to create a great atmosphere, even during the rehearsals. Registration: https://www.tanzschulechris.at/tanzkurse/ballkomitee 
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