The showcase festival Waves Vienna, together with its conference, returns for its 16th edition from October 1 to 3, 2026, with several new developments.
New Festival Management and Joint Strategic Development
With its 16th edition, Waves Vienna is also undergoing organizational changes: Giovanna Fartacek is joining the festival’s management team and will take over responsibility for the festival side of Waves Vienna. Founder Sarah Thomas Heher will continue to oversee the Waves Vienna Conference, as well as the festival’s international projects and partnerships. Together, the two directors will further develop Waves Vienna strategically and strengthen its position as a festival, professional conference, and international platform for new music.
16th Edition: 107 Acts, Guest of Honor UK and New Conference Venue
From October 1 to 3, 2026, the 16th edition of Waves Vienna will once again bring artists, music professionals, and audiences from across Europe and beyond together in Vienna. A total of 107 acts are featured in this year’s festival program. Concerts will take place at numerous venues along Vienna’s Gürtel, making the festival a central hub for discovering new and emerging music in 2026 as well. (Program)
This year’s Guest of Honor is the United Kingdom. In addition to numerous British acts featured in the festival program, the UK focus also runs throughout the Conference, placing exchange between the British, Austrian, and European music scenes at the heart of the program.
In 2026, the Waves Vienna Conference moves to the Albert Hall, providing the event with a new central home. A particular focus will be placed on sync, and thus on the intersection of music with film, TV, games, advertising, and other audiovisual media. The Conference will also explore current developments in music export, international mobility, new business models, technology, media, and the future structures of the European music ecosystem. (Conference Program)
Kick-off with Block Party in Spittelau
Waves Vienna will already kick off the festival weekend on Wednesday, September 30, from 7 p.m. with a Block Party. The event will take place in the square in front of the Spittelau District Heating Plant. With this new kick-off event, Waves Vienna is opening up even further to the city and its audiences, setting the stage for three days of festival and conference activities from the evening before. The Block Party line-up will be announced shortly.
New Young Professionals Programme
Also on September 30, a new Young Professionals Programme will launch in the afternoon for the first time, organized by Waves Vienna in cooperation with mica – music austria. The program is aimed at young and aspiring music professionals and will accompany participants throughout the Conference. A range of formats, from workshops and talks to panels and networking opportunities, will provide knowledge, create connections, and facilitate entry into the professional music industry.
International Partnerships and Stronger European Networking
International exchange remains one of the central pillars of Waves Vienna. In 2026, the festival will once again present numerous showcase and cooperation formats with international partners. Alongside this year’s Guest of Honor, the UK, partnerships are also in place with Germany, Hungary, France, Switzerland, Ukraine, Latvia, and other countries. At the same time, Waves Vienna has significantly expanded its own international presence. The festival is represented on the board of the Federation of Music Conferences and participates in the European initiatives Keychange, ESNS Exchange, and UPBEAT. In addition, Waves Vienna is a partner in the new Incubator project, implemented through Erasmus+, which brings together international partners to develop new formats for emerging talent, exchange, and professional development. In this way, Waves Vienna is increasingly bringing its many years of experience to the development of shared European structures.
UK Residency with Oskar Haag
Another element of the festival’s international work in 2026 was the first-ever UK Residency with Austrian artist Oskar Haag. In May, the residency took him to the United Kingdom, creating space for artistic exchange, new contacts, and collaborations between artists and music professionals from the Austrian and British music scenes. The experiences and outcomes of the project will be discussed and further developed at the Waves Vienna Conference, together with the participating artists and partners.
XA – Export Award 2026
In 2026, the XA – Export Award will once again be presented as part of Waves Vienna. The award was launched by Waves Vienna in 2017 and is organized jointly with mica – music austria, Austrian Music Export, Austro Mechana/SKE Fonds, and Radio FM4. Its aim is to support Austrian artists who have already established a foundation in Austria in taking the next step toward an international career. During Waves Vienna, an international jury of festival promoters, label representatives, bookers, and journalists will attend the shows of the six nominated acts and subsequently select the most compelling performance. The winning act will receive €4,000 in prize money, provided by SKE AustroMechana, as well as support from Austrian Music Export, FM4, and Waves Vienna throughout the following year. In addition, €5,000 in touring support will be provided by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Culture.
The nominees for the XA – Export Award 2026 are:
Aki Traar
Ava Fina
Cute Aggression
Ivery
Peach Tinted
Tamara Flores
Rausgegangen Becomes Main Partner of Waves Vienna
In 2026, Waves Vienna also welcomes a new main partner: Rausgegangen. The established German platform for events and cultural discoveries is entering Vienna for the first time through its partnership with Waves Vienna, marking another step in its expansion beyond Germany.
Links:
Waves Vienna (Instagram)
Waves Viena (Facebook)
