Imperial Days in Bad Ischl
Around 18 August, Bad Ischl is entirely focused on the birthday of Emperor Franz Joseph I. To mark the occasion, numerous festivities take place in the imperial town during this period. Highlights always include the arrival of the imperial train at the station, the Emperor’s Festival in the spa gardens on 15 August, and the Emperor’s Mass on 18 August.
With plenty of charm, a touch of nostalgia and a healthy dash of tongue-in-cheek entertainment, the imperial town serves up a colourful cocktail of festive hospitality to mark the Emperor’s birthday.
Imperial Days 2026 Programme
Imperial Days
Imperial Stroll
Imperial Days Programme
10 August 2026 (Monday)
7.30 pm: Spa concert by the Bad Ischl Citizens’ Band
Venue: Music Pavilion (or the Trinkhalle in the event of bad weather)
11 August 2026 (Tuesday)
3.30 pm: ‘Boccaccio’ – Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
7.00 pm (until 18 August; 5.00–7.00 pm): Opening of the exhibition “Halali – The Art of the Hunt” – multimedia installation (Ina Loitzl)
Venue: Galerie AM FLUSS, Hasnerallee 2
7.30 pm: Concert by the Salinenkapelle Bad Ischl
Venue: Music Pavilion (or the Trinkhalle in the event of bad weather)
12 August 2026 (Wednesday)
3.30 pm: ‘Countess Mariza’ – Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
3.30 pm: Special guided tour ‘Sisi & Franz’ (approx. 1½ hours)
Venue: Meeting point at the Trinkhalle
approx. 9.00 pm: Summer cinema in the Kurpark
Venue: Kurpark
13 August 2026 (Thursday)
10.00 am: Yodelling course on the Katrin
Venue: Katrin cable car
3.00 pm: Book launch for ‘Habsburg’ – Roman Sandgruber
Venue: Hotel Austria
3.30 pm: Special guided tour ‘Katharina Schratt’ (approx. 1½ hours)
Venue: Trinkhalle meeting point
5.00 pm: Guided MTB tour (approx. 3 hours)
Venue: Meeting point: Trinkhalle
7.30 pm: ‘Boccaccio’ – Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
14 August 2026 (Friday)
07:00–12:00: Weekly market
Venue: Auböckplatz & KFJ-Straße
11.30 am–1.00 pm: Photo session with the imperial court
Venue: Garten Hotel Austria (in the Hotel Austria in the event of bad weather)
15:00: Church experience ‘A Glimpse of Heaven’
Venue: Bad Ischl Parish Church
3.00 pm: Special guided tour at the Hotel Austria: ‘Sisi! – Empress between Myth and Freedom’
Venue: Museum of the Town of Bad Ischl
3.30 pm: Children’s tour ‘Ischl for Kids’ (approx. 1½ hours)
Venue: Trinkhalle meeting point
7.30 pm: Premiere of ‘Der Göttergatte’ – Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
7.30 pm: “Stanzen und Keintate” – Salon Post
Venue: Old Post Office, Auböckplatz
15 August 2026 (Saturday)
approx. 11.15 am: Arrival of the Imperial Train
Venue: Bad Ischl railway station
From 1.00 pm: Imperial Festival organised by the Bürgerkapelle
Venue: Kurpark
3.00 pm: Emperor Franz Josef Memorial Trotting Race
Venue: Kaltenbachau Trotting Track
3.30 pm: Special guided tour ‘Kaiserschmarrn’ (approx. 1½ hours)
Venue: Meeting point at the Trinkhalle
7.30 pm: ‘Countess Mariza’ – Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
8.00 pm: Spa concert by the OMK Mitterweißenbach
Venue: Kurpark
Weißwurst Festival, Salty Dixie Ramblers
Venue: k.u.k. Schirm
16 August 2026 (Sunday)
10.00 am: Special guided tour ‘The Salt Princes’ (approx. 1½ hours)
Venue: Meeting point at the Trinkhalle
10.30 am–12.00 pm: Musical matinee
Venue: Lehárvilla
Approx. 2.00 pm: Empress Elisabeth’s side-saddle riding event (weather permitting only)
Venue: Bad Ischl Trotting Track
3.30 pm: ‘Der Göttergatte’ – Lehár Festival
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
Anniversary of Elvis’s death, King Grace & Band
Venue: k.u.k. Schirm
17 August 2026 (Monday)
From 10.00 am: Imperial Stroll
Venue: Town centre
11.00 am: Kurquartett concert
Venue: Esplanade (wedding hall in the event of bad weather)
11.30 am–1.00 pm: Photo session with the Imperial Court
Venue: Garten Hotel Austria
3.30 pm: Special guided tour ‘Sisi Myths Unveiled’ (approx. 1½ hours)
Venue: Meeting point at the Trinkhalle
Kaiserbummel, Mad Mat Schuh
Venue: k.u.k. Schirm
18 August 2026 (Tuesday)
09:30: Procession of the associations to the Imperial Mass
Venue: KFJ-Straße
10.00 am: Imperial Mass & reception
Venue: Stadtpfarrkirche / Kaiservilla
3.30 pm: Special guided tour ‘Emperor Franz Joseph’ (approx. 1½ hours)
Venue: Trinkhalle meeting point
7.00 pm: Closing event for the exhibition “Halali – The Art of the Hunt” – multimedia installation (Ina Loitzl)
Venue: Galerie AM FLUSS, Hasnerallee 2
7.30 pm : “Hits from 5 Decades” – Susanne Marik
Venue: Kongress & TheaterHaus
7.30 pm: Special concert by the Bad Ischl Salinenkapelle
Venue: Music Pavilion (or Trinkhalle in the event of bad weather)
Ongoing (11–18 August 2026)
Daily 5.00 pm–7.00 pm: Exhibition “Halali – The Art of the Hunt”
Venue: Galerie AM FLUSS
As at 10 July 2026