Imperial Days in Bad Ischl
Around 18 August, Bad Ischl is dedicated to the birthday of Emperor Franz Joseph I. Numerous festivities take place in the imperial town during this period to mark the occasion. The arrival of the imperial train at the railway station, the Imperial Festival in the Kurpark on 15 August and the Imperial Mass on 18 August are always fixed points.
With plenty of charm, a little nostalgia and a healthy pinch of ironic entertainment, the imperial city serves up a colourful cocktail of hospitable festive cheer around the emperor's birthday.
Imperial Days
Programme Imperial Days
10.08.2026 (Monday)
19:30: Spa concert by the Bad Ischl Bürgerkapelle
Venue: Music pavilion (Trinkhalle in case of bad weather)
11.08.2026 (Tuesday)
(all day, until 19.08.): Exhibition "On the trail of the imperial family - hairytales" (Ina Loitzl)
Location: Galerie AM FLUSS, Hasnerallee 2
15:30: "Boccaccio" - Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
7:00 pm: Vernissage "Tracing the Imperial Family - hairytales"
Location: Galerie AM FLUSS
19:30: Spa concert by the Salinenkapelle Bad Ischl
Venue: Music Pavilion (Trinkhalle in case of bad weather)
12.08.2026 (Wednesday)
3:30 pm: "Countess Mariza" - Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
15:30: Special guided tour "Sisi & Franz" (approx. 1.5 h)
Location: Meeting point Trinkhalle
approx. 21:00: Summer cinema in the Kurpark
Location: Kurpark
13.08.2026 (Thursday)
10:00 am: Yodelling course on the Katrin
Location: Katrin cable car
15:00: Book presentation "Habsburg" - Roman Sandgruber
Location: Hotel Austria
15:30: Special guided tour "Katharina Schratt" (approx. 1.5 h)
Location: Meeting point Trinkhalle
17:00: Guided MTB tour (approx. 3 h)
Location: Meeting point Trinkhalle
19:30: "Boccaccio" - Lehár Festival
Location: Kongress & TheaterHaus
14.08.2026 (Friday)
07:00-12:00: Weekly market
Location: Auböckplatz & KFJ-Straße
11:30-13:00: Photo audience with the imperial court
Location: Garten Hotel Austria (in case of bad weather in Hotel Austria)
15:00: Church experience "A glimpse into the sky"
Location: Bad Ischl parish church
15:00: Special guided tour "Sisi! - Empress between myth and freedom"
Location: Museum of the City of Bad Ischl
3:30 pm: Children's tour "Ischl for Kids" (approx. 1.5 h)
Location: Meeting point Trinkhalle
7:30 pm: Premiere of "Der Göttergatte" - Lehár Festival
Location: Kongress & TheaterHaus
7:30 pm: "Stanzen und Keintate" - Salon Post
Location: Old Post Office, Auböckplatz
15.08.2026 (Saturday)
approx. 11:15 am: Arrival of the Imperial Train
Venue: Bad Ischl railway station
from 13:00: Imperial Festival of the Bürgerkapelle
Location: Kurpark
14:00: Spa concert by the Bad Ischl Citizens' Band
Venue: Kurpark
3:00 pm: Emperor Franz Josef Memorial Trotting Race
Location: Kaltenbachau Trotting Track
3:30 pm: Special guided tour "Kaiserschmarrn" (approx. 1.5 h)
Location: Meeting point Trinkhalle
19:00: Spa concert by the OMK Mitterweißenbach
Location: Kurpark
19:30: "Gräfin Mariza" - Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
Weißwurstfeiertag, Salty Dixie Ramblers
Venue: k.u.k. Schirm
16.08.2026 (Sunday)
10:00 am: Special guided tour "The Salt Princes" (approx. 1.5 h)
Location: Meeting point Trinkhalle
10:30-12:00: Musical matinée
Location: Lehárvilla
approx. 14:00: Empress Elisabeth side-saddle riding event (only in good weather)
Location: Bad Ischl trotting track
15:30: "Der Göttergatte" - Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
Elvis' anniversary of death, King Grace & Band
Venue: k.u.k. Umbrella
17.08.2026 (Monday)
from 10:00 am: Imperial Stroll
Location: City centre
11:00 am: Kurquartett concert
Venue: Esplanade (in case of bad weather, wedding hall)
11:30-13:00: Photo audience with the imperial court
Location: Garten Hotel Austria
15:30: Special guided tour "Sisi Myths Uncovered" (approx. 1.5 h)
Venue: Meeting point Trinkhalle
Imperial Stroll, Mad Mat Schuh
Venue: k.u.k. Umbrella
18.08.2026 (Tuesday)
09:30 am: Lining up of the associations
Location: KFJ-Straße
10:00 am: Imperial Mass & Reception
Location: Parish Church / Imperial Villa
15:30: Special guided tour "Emperor Franz Joseph" (approx. 1.5 h)
Location: Meeting point Trinkhalle
(time not specified): "The hits from 5 decades" - Susanne Marik
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
19:30: Spa concert by the Salinenkapelle Bad Ischl
Venue: Music pavilion (in case of bad weather Trinkhalle)
ongoing (11 - 19 August 2026)
daily 17:00-19:00: Exhibition "On the trail of the imperial family - hairytales"
Location: Galerie AM FLUSS
Status: 9 April 2026