Vienna Humanities Festival

At the end of September, Vienna becomes a stage for dialogue and debate when the Vienna Humanities Festival returns from September 24–28, 2025. Over the course of five days, leading thinkers, writers, scientists, and activists from Austria and abroad will gather to discuss pressing issues of our time.

The festival’s focus is on politics, ecology, philosophy, and society, tackling questions that matter for our shared future: from democracy and human rights to climate change, migration, and digital transformation.

Events include lectures, panel discussions, book presentations, and debates held in key cultural venues such as the University of Vienna, the Jewish Museum, the Literaturhaus Wien, and the Bruno Kreisky Forum. Many sessions are designed to encourage dialogue between speakers and audience, making the festival as interactive as it is thought-provoking.

The Vienna Humanities Festival is part of a European festival network that includes the long-established “Humanities Festival” in Zurich. With most events accessible at little or no cost, it provides a unique opportunity to engage with new ideas and critical perspectives in the cultural heart of Vienna.

Date: September 24–28, 2025

Location: Various venues across Vienna (University of Vienna, Jewish Museum, Literaturhaus Wien, Bruno Kreisky Forum, etc.)

Admission: Mostly free or low-cost (approx. €0–15 per event, depending on venue)

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