Vienna's top autumn exhibitions and cultural highlights 2023

Vienna's autumn cultural season dazzles with art, theatre and film

Vienna's autumn cultural season is in full swing. Major exhibitions, theatre premieres, and film festivals are drawing audiences across the city. From world-renowned retrospectives to new stage productions, the programme offers something for every taste. The Albertina Modern is currently hosting a major retrospective of Marina Abramović, running until March 1, 2023. The exhibition covers five decades of her groundbreaking work, from early Rhythm performances to Balkan Baroque, the piece that earned her the Golden Lion at the 1997 Venice Biennale. Her 2010 MoMA retrospective attracted over 850,000 visitors, and her endurance-based pieces continue to influence performance art globally.

Meanwhile, the Lower Belvedere is showcasing Cezanne, Monet, Renoir until February 8, 2023. The show brings together key works by these Impressionist masters. Nearby, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is presenting a retrospective of Flemish Baroque painter Michaelina Wautier, open until February 22, 2023. Wautier's large-scale historical paintings defied the gender expectations of her time.

The Viennale film festival is underway, featuring international films and discussions with filmmakers until October 28, 2022. On stage, the Ronacher theatre has just opened Maria Theresia, a new musical that premiered on October 10, 2022. Tonight's performances include My Fair Lady at the Volksoper, The Last Days of Mankind at the Burgtheater, and a recital by baritone Ludovic Tezier at the Konzerthaus. The Albertina is also displaying Gothic Modern, though its closing date has yet to be announced. With exhibitions spanning Impressionism to contemporary performance art, alongside theatre, film, and music, Vienna's cultural calendar remains packed. The city continues to attract visitors and locals alike with its diverse and high-profile events.