From July 23 to 26, 2026, Vienna’s Karlsplatz will once again become a gathering place for the local pop music scene. The 17th Popfest Wien will bring together more than 50 acts at the tried-and-true venues around Karlsplatz—with free admission—and will once again highlight the diversity and innovative spirit of the Austrian music scene. For the first time, artistic direction will be handled by musician Sofie Royer and musician and producer Wolfgang Lehmann, who have put together a program spanning pop, club music, indie, hip-hop, electronic music, and experimental soundscapes.
Once again, the focus is on the lake stage in front of Karlskirche, where the festival’s major concert highlights will take place over three evenings. The program is complemented by performances at the Wien Museum, the TU Prechtlsaal, Karlskirche, Club U, and other venues around Karlsplatz.
New Perspectives on Austrian Pop
Sofie Royer and Wolfgang Lehmann, a curatorial duo who champion an open, international approach to pop music, are taking over the programming. Their program is intended as a snapshot of a scene that is increasingly breaking down stylistic boundaries and blending influences from a wide variety of musical and cultural contexts. The selection of invited artists is correspondingly broad: established names meet exciting newcomers, and electronic productions stand alongside songwriting, rap, and experimental formats.
Between Established Acts and New Voices
In 2026, Popfest will once again present a wide range of contemporary Austrian music. Artists from genres including indie, pop, hip-hop, electronic, and avant-garde will perform on the various stages. The festival thus remains true to its mission of not only showcasing well-known acts but, above all, highlighting current developments in the local scene and introducing new voices to a broad audience.
In addition to the concerts, numerous collaborations and discussion-based formats are once again part of this year’s festival, creating space for encounters between musicians, the audience, and representatives of the Austrian music scene.
Popfest as a Showcase for the Local Music Scene
Since its inception, Popfest Wien has established itself as the most important summer platform for contemporary Austrian pop music. Year after year, the festival highlights just how diverse, experimental, and internationally connected the local scene is. With free admission and a deliberately low barrier to entry, the festival remains true to its mission of making music of a wide variety of styles accessible to a broad audience.
Popfest Vienna Program 2026
July 23–26, 2026: Karlsplatz and various venues throughout Vienna
Admission to all events is free.
Program Overview:
Concerts
Thursday, July 23
- 6:30–11:00 p.m. – Lake Stage: Marianne Mendt, Anna Buchegger, Lusterboden, Tamara Flores
- 8:00–11:30 p.m. – Vienna Museum (Upper Floor): Luisa Schweig, Sanna Frankie
- 9:00–10:00 p.m. – Vienna Museum Foyer: Dexpleen
- 11:00 p.m.–2:30 a.m. – TU Prechtlsaal: Spilif, Bon Jour, Gunship Collider
- From 10:00 p.m. – Club U: Edition Hawara
Friday, July 24
- 3:00–11:00 p.m. – Ping Pong Floor: Public table tennis with Umdi; 6:00 p.m.: Mme Psychosis
- 5:00–11:00 p.m. – Lake Stage: Sladek, Purple, Rahel, Joshua Pepe, EN6O
- 8:00–11:30 p.m. – Vienna Museum (Upper Floor): Ischia, Nok Nok
- 9:00–10:00 p.m. – Vienna Museum Foyer: Drank
- 11:00 p.m.–3:30 a.m. – TU Prechtlsaal: Alles Exhausted, Pyrite, Vereter, Gran Bankrott
- From 10:00 p.m. – Club U: Wiener Planquadrat × Friends
Saturday, July 25
- 3:00–11:00 p.m. – Ping Pong Floor: Public table tennis with Umdi; 6:00 p.m.: House of Skin
- 5:00–11:00 p.m. – Lake Stage: Alpha Romeo & die Sommerreifen, Rose May Alaba, Gardens, Cordoba78, Shake Stew
- 8:00–11:30 p.m. – Vienna Museum (Upper Floor): Kid on Air, Julia Effekt
- 9:00–10:00 p.m. – Vienna Museum Foyer: Robert Stadlober
- 11:00 p.m.–3:30 a.m. – TU Prechtlsaal: Cave Club, Anna Grob, Plow, Bull Nakano
- From 10:00 p.m. – Club U: kevin × Friends
Sunday, July 26
- 3:00–8:00 p.m. – Ping Pong Floor: Public table tennis with Umdi
- 9:00 p.m.–Midnight – St. Charles Church (Karlskirche): Teresa Rotschopf, Martin Klein, Exit Void
Additional Program
In cooperation with mica – music sustria, presented by the Vienna Business Agency
Talks & Guided Tour (Vienna Museum)
- Fri, July 24, 4:00 p.m.: “Von der Glock’n zum Hofa” – Marianne Mendt & Joesi Prokopetz in conversation with Robert Rotifer
- Sat, July 25, 4:00 p.m.: “Austrian Dream on Air and on Stream” with Dodo Roscic, Eva Dinnewitzer, Hannes Tschürtz, Sofie Fatouretchi, Antonio Della Rossa; moderated by Kristin Gruber
- Sun, July 26, 5:00 p.m.: 50 Years of Arena – insider’s tour with Laurenz Platzer
Pop Culture Walking Tour
- Fri, July 24, 1:00 p.m. & Sat, July 25, 2:00 p.m.
- Vienna 1945 – Today (meeting point: Stephansplatz), guided by Geri Hollerer
Walking Concert
- Sat, July 25, Midnight – Lake Stage
- With Oliver Welter (headphones available from 11:30 p.m.)
Live Podcast
- Sun, July 26, 7:00 p.m. – Organ Balcony, Karlskirche
- Popfest26 Recap with Philip Dulle, Sofie Royer & Wolfgang Lehmann
Popfest Warm-Up @ Karlskino Open Air
Saturday, July 18 – 9:00 p.m.
- Gran Bankrott – Die Telenovela (Visnjic & Gran)
- The Life of Sean Delear (Markus Zizenbacher)
Sunday, July 19 – 9:00 p.m.
- Tempo – 30th Anniversary Get-Together with Stefan Ruzowitzky, Xaver Hutter, Doris Schretzmayer, Patrick Pulsinger; moderated by Petra Erdmann
Popfest Warm-Up @ Stadtkino
Monday, July 20 – 8:30 p.m.
- Downtown ’81 (directed by Edo Bertoglio, featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat and others)
Tuesday, July 21 – 8:30 p.m.
- Gimme Danger (directed by Jim Jarmusch, featuring Iggy Pop and others)