Kultursommer Wien

What Kultursommer Wien does

Kultursommer Wien is a decentralized open-air cultural festival operating across multiple outdoor stages throughout Vienna, Austria. Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic by Kultursommer Wien KS GmbH (legally established December 2021 and attached to parent organization Basis.Kultur.Wien), the festival offers free admission to diverse programming including cabaret, literature, music, dance and performance, theater, and contemporary circus. The festival runs annually from early July to mid-August, with evening performances Thursday through Sunday across 11+ neighborhood stages located in Vienna districts 1 through 23 (Waldmüllerpark, Hyblerpark, Wilhelmsdorfer Park, Reithofferpark, Kongreßpark, Nordwestbahnhof, Fußballverein 1210, Schrödingerplatz, Stadtpark Atzgersdorf, Rathausplatz, and Kaiserwiese Prater).

The core offering is complemented by three sub-products: a children's program (Kinderprogramm) with morning performances and weekly children's festivals on Saturdays; garden concerts (Gartenkonzerte) held Monday-Friday in 29 Häuser zum Leben senior living facilities across Vienna; and Kultursommer Plus, a participatory arts program offering workshops, open art stations, and community engagement formats. All events are free of charge, with no ticketing system; the organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform, relying instead on standard digital tools including Brevo for newsletter distribution, Google Analytics for web analytics, and UmfrageOnline for visitor surveys.

The business model is non-commercial, funded primarily through public sector support from the City of Vienna (Stadt Wien) via Wiener Stadtwerke as primary funder, alongside corporate sponsorships (PORR AG as main sponsor, plus Wiener Symphoniker, Ottakringer Brauerei, Wiener Arbeiterkammer, Westfield Donauzentrum, and others). Revenue is structured as recurring annual funding rather than transactional sales. The organization employs approximately 15-19 staff across managing directors, communications, Kultursommer Plus, artistic production, production and technical, and office management functions, with accessibility features including Austrian Sign Language interpretation, hearing loops, and sensory-friendly programming.

Name

Kultursommer Wien

Legal name

Kultursommer Wien KS GmbH

Website

https://kultursommer.wien

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kultursommer Wien operates a free, decentralized open-air cultural festival across 11+ neighborhood stages in Vienna, offering cabaret, music, theater, and participatory arts programming to all Vienna residents, including dedicated children's programs and concerts in 29 senior living facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Open-Air Cultural Festival Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Amphitheater & Open-Air Venue Operations (MPAGALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Open-air cultural festival
• Free public events
• Community arts programming
• Decentralized festival operations
• Sustainable event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: Primary funding from City of Vienna (Stadt Wien) as the main funder, with support from various public and private sponsors
2. Sponsorship: Funding from corporate sponsors including PORR (main sponsor), Wiener Symphoniker, Wiener Arbeiterkammer, Ottakringer Brauerei, Westfield Donauzentrum, and others

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kultursommer Wien operates a free, decentralized open-air cultural festival across more than 11 outdoor stages in Vienna's public parks and squares, presenting evening programming in genres including cabaret, literature, music, dance and performance, theater, and contemporary circus. Supporting programs include the morning Kinderprogramm (children's program), Gartenkonzerte (garden concerts held in 29 Häuser zum Leben retirement homes), and Kultursommer Plus (participatory arts workshops and community activities). All events are offered at no cost to attendees as a publicly and corporately funded cultural-policy initiative.

Product overview

Kultursommer Wien is a decentralized open-air festival offering free cultural programming across multiple outdoor stages in Vienna's public parks and spaces. The core offering is the main festival featuring Kabarett (cabaret), Literatur (literature), Musik (music), Tanz & Performance (dance & performance), Theater (theater), and Zeitgenössischer Zirkus (contemporary circus). Supporting products include Kinderprogramm (morning children's programming and weekly children's festivals), Gartenkonzerte (garden concerts in retirement homes), and Kultursommer Plus (participatory art and culture workshops). The festival operates stages in multiple Vienna districts including Waldmüllerpark, Hyblerpark, Wilhelmsdorfer Park, Reithofferpark, Kongreßpark, Nordwestbahnhof, Fußballverein 1210 Wien, Schrödingerplatz, and Stadtpark Atzgersdorf.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kultursommer Wien Festival A decentralized open-air cultural festival with free admission held across 11+ outdoor stages in Vienna's parks and public spaces, featuring diverse genres including cabaret, literature, music, dance and performance, theater, and contemporary circus. Open to all Vienna residents and visitors on a free, walk-in basis during the annual summer season.
• Kinderprogramm (Children's Program) Morning programming for young audiences from 10:30 to 11:30 on selected days (Thursday to Sunday), including a weekly children's festival on Saturdays. Designed for families with children seeking free, accessible cultural experiences.
• Gartenkonzerte (Garden Concerts) Concerts held in 29 Häuser zum Leben senior living facilities across Vienna, featuring Wienerlied, Schlager, classical music, and folk music. Programming takes place Monday to Friday afternoons in the gardens of the retirement homes for pensioner residents.
• Kultursommer Plus (Participatory Program) Participatory arts and culture program featuring workshops, open art stations, and picknicks. Includes formats such as Street Art, Performance & Draw, Styling Corner, and Connection Kiosk to enable community engagement alongside the main festival programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29 retirement homes served with garden concerts
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wiener SymphonikercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for opening concerts including the Prater-Picknick event. Partnership includes co-produced opening performances.
• Ottakringer BrauereiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner hosting Kultursommer Wien programming at the Ottakringer Bierfest event with stage performances.
• Wiener ArbeiterkammerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting the festival as part of cultural offerings for Vienna workers and residents.
• Westfield DonauzentrumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShopping center partner contributing to festival sponsorship and support.
• Wien XtraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna tourism and events organization partner supporting festival promotion.
• Taxi 31300minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation partner providing mobility support for festival attendees.
• Basiskultur WiencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization for owner representation (Jürgen Partaj as Eigentümervertretung). Kultursommer Wien is affiliated with Basis.Kultur.Wien for long-term cultural policy relevance.
• Häuser zum Leben (KWP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 29 senior living facilities (KWP) for garden concert series, bringing music directly to pensioners across Vienna.
• isa – Internationale Sommerakademie der mdwminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational summer academy partnership providing classical music programming.
• Film Festival auf dem Wiener RathausplatzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with the film festival at Vienna City Hall for cultural programming synergy.
• ThaliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBook retailer partnership supporting literary programming.
• UnverschwendetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability-focused partner supporting food waste reduction initiatives.
• ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation infrastructure partner supporting sustainable travel to festival venues.
• ORF WienminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic broadcaster and media partner providing press coverage and promotion.
• FalterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian weekly magazine media partner for festival coverage.
• Der StandardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian daily newspaper media partner.
• KurierminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian daily newspaper media partner.
• WITAF (Wiener Taubstummen-Fürsorgeverein)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility partner for Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) interpretation and deaf community inclusion.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Donauinselfest: Vienna's largest free open-air cultural and music festival held along the Danube Island. Directly comparable to Kultursommer Wien as a free, outdoor, decentralized Viennese summer cultural event with multi-stage programming and broad public appeal.
• Wiener Festwochen: Vienna's flagship spring multi-week performing arts festival mixing theater, music, and dance. Comparable to Kultursommer Wien in genre breadth and municipal backing, though ticketed and more international in artist mix.
• ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival: Annual contemporary dance and performance festival held across Vienna venues in summer. Overlaps with Kultursommer Wien's Tanz & Performance programming and operates on a similar multi-venue, multi-week model in the same city.
• brut Wien: Vienna-based production house for contemporary performance and dance across genres. Comparable in city, funding-base, and genre-disciplined programming to Kultursommer Wien's multidisciplinary performance focus.
• Linzer Pflasterspektakel: Austria's largest free open-air street performance festival held annually in Linz. Closely parallels Kultursommer Wien's free, decentralized, multi-genre outdoor festival model and public-funding structure.
• Szene Bunte Wähning: Alternative Viennese summer festival presenting theater, music, and performance in unconventional spaces. Comparable in alternative, decentralized programming style to Kultursommer Wien's outdoor, genre-diverse approach.

Broad incumbents

• Sziget Festival: One of Europe's largest summer multi-genre cultural festivals held on an island in Budapest. Comparable as a large-scale, summer, multi-stage, decentralized cultural event operating with significant municipal support, though ticketed and international in audience.
• Salzburger Festspiele: Austria's premier international performing arts festival held annually in Salzburg. Comparable as a major Austrian publicly-supported cultural festival portfolio, though operating at higher ticket prices and premium positioning.

Emerging players

• Wien Modern: Annual Vienna festival of contemporary and experimental music. Comparable in city, season overlap, and curatorial approach to Kultursommer Wien's Musik and Zeitgenössischer Zirkus programming.

Regional players

• Münchner Opernfestspiele: Annual summer opera and performance festival in Munich, Germany. Comparable as a publicly-supported, regionally anchored summer cultural festival in a German-speaking market neighboring Austria.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kultursommerwien
• Instagraminstagram.com/kultursommerwien/?hl=de
• TikToktiktok.com/@kultursommerwien
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kultursommer-wien

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kultursommer Wien