Explore the Magic of Vienna

Following our three previous trips, we are once again gearing up for a trip to enjoy Vienna’s ball season in 2027. It may seem like a long way off, but planning is essential and both the city of Vienna and its ball season are enjoying unprecedented popularity. We are once again planning two different balls, one at the Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the other one at the Hofburg or Imperial Palace.  We will once again witness the Imperial Palace turning into the largest coffee house of the world as a tribute to Vienna’s famous coffee house culture. Please read on to learn more. 

Important note: Viennese balls do not include dinner and start late (between 9: 30 and 10 pm). Food can be purchased, but it is recommended that you have a light dinner before attending the ball. 

Group A: Vienna Philharmonic Ball including dance lesson at Elmayer’s, dinner, and private tour of Palais Liechtenstein, owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, and a tour of the Austrian Parliament which has its origins during the monarchy and affords a grand view of the magnificent palaces and residences along the famous Ringstrasse, the UNESCO-designated grand boulevard circling Vienna’s inner city. 

$1,299 per person
Limit: 16 people, minimum 8 participants

Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2027

• Private Ballroom Dance Lesson at Vienna’s renowned Elmayer Dance School to prepare for the ball. The lesson will include the famous Fledermausquadrille, which is a must at every Viennese ball and will be announced by Prof. Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer at both events. — Time TBD

Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027

• Guided exclusive tour of Palais Liechtenstein, owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, with its baroque splendor and impressive art collection featuring works of great masters such as Raphael, Rubens, and Sebastiano Ricci. The Princely Collection is one of the largest and most valuable private art collections in the world. The tour is approximately 1 hour, and will require walking.  
• Private tour of the Viennese Parliament building including a behind-the-scenes look into the historic plenary room. Duration is approx. 85 minutes. Please wear comfortable shoes that allow you to navigate stairs and perhaps some uneven terrain. The area in front of the Parliament building has been a construction site for some time, and we cannot guarantee that all construction will have been resolved. 
• Dinner at a Viennese restaurant to sample the delights of Viennese cuisine

Thursday, Jan. 21, 2027

Join us for a night of splendor and dancing until dawn in the Golden Hall of Vienna’s Musikverein, the concert hall of the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Enjoy a beautiful opening ceremony with debutantes directed by the renowned Elmayer Dance School in Vienna. Click here to watch a video of a previous ball. Celebrity guests in 2025 included Canadian actor and TV host Eugene Levy and opera singer Anna Netrebko. We’ll enjoy a celebratory glass of champagne to kick off the evening. Please note that the dress code for this ball is strictly white tie and tails aka full evening dress for gentlemen, and floor-length ball gowns for ladies. You cannot be overdressed. 

Please note that we are limited to 16 people for this event. 

Admission: 9:00 PM
Opening Ceremony Beginning: 10:00 PM
Ball ends: 5:00 AM — The Viennese then eat breakfast at one of the many cafés or pick up a sausage at a Würstlstand.

We suggest arriving on Monday, Jan. 18, 2027 so you can adjust to the six-hour time difference. Flights from the United States to Europe are always overnight, and arrive in Vienna in the morning or early afternoon if you have a layover. The Schwechat Airport is just a short drive from the city. A list of suggested hotels at various price levels can be found below. Breakfast is often included, but please be sure to check the hotel’s Website.

This package is limited to 16 participants. Please note that we can only finalize the itinerary in October. 

COST: $1,299 per person

Click here to watch a video of the opening ceremony at the Musikverein.

Group B: Traditional Viennese Ball in the rooms of the Imperial Palace including dance lesson, dinner, and tours — $1,150 per person
Limit: A minimum of 8 participants is required. We are still waiting to hear back from our partners on the ball committee to find out about the best available seats. This ball sells out weeks in advance every single year with individual tickets (no seat) offered for 600-800 Euros on secondary market spaces. 

Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027

• Guided exclusive tour of Palais Liechtenstein, owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, with its baroque splendor and impressive art collection featuring works of great masters such as Raphael, Rubens, and Sebastiano Ricci. The Princely Collection is one of the largest and most valuable private art collections in the world. The tour is approximately 1 hour, and will require walking.  
• Private tour of the Viennese Parliament building including a behind-the-scenes look into the historic plenary room. Duration is approx. 85 minutes. Please wear comfortable shoes that allow you to navigate stairs and perhaps some uneven terrain. The area in front of the Parliament building has been a construction site for some time, and we cannot guarantee that all construction will have been resolved. 
• Dinner at a Viennese restaurant to sample the delights of Viennese cuisine.

Thursday, Jan. 21, 2027

• Private Ballroom Dance Lesson at Vienna’s renowned Elmayer Dance School to prepare for the ball. The lesson will include the famous Fledermausquadrille, which is a must at every Viennese ball. The Quadrille will be announced by Prof. Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer, owner of Vienna’s most famous dance school.– Time TBD
  

Friday, Jan. 22, 2027

We start the evening with a celebratory glass of champagne on the house. The dress code is either white or black tie for gentlemen and a long ball gown for the ladies. For attire tips, take a look at this entertaining video (in German only) with etiquette expert Prof. Schäfer-Elmayer.

Ball Program:

• 7:30 PM: Admission to the ball begins, which leaves you plenty of time to enjoy a light dinner.
• 9 PM: Fanfare and festive opening ceremony, choreographed by the Elmayer Dance School, which includes the presentation of debutantes in the main hall is followed by music and dancing.
• Midnight: You will be treated to a special Midnight Show 
• 12:30 AM: 1st public quadrille in the main ballroom. This fun group dance consists of six parts, and is performed to the music of Johann Strauss’s operetta “Die Fledermaus”.
• 2:30 AM: 2nd public quadrille under the direction of Prof. Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer.
• 4:30 AM: Ball ends. The Viennese then gather at one of the many cafés of the city for an early breakfast. 

COST: $1,150 per person

Suggested Hotels:

• Pension Lerner – a small B&B in the heart of the old city with easy access to the many sights. 
• Hotel Pertschy – traditional Viennese hotel located in the 17th-century Palais Cavriani, and just minutes from the Imperial Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral
• Graben Hotel – classic Viennese city hotel in an 18th century building, redesigned in 1913, it served as a popular meeting point for the literary scene from 1913-1919; Peter Altenberg, Franz Kafka and Max Brod were regular guests.
• Hotel Sacher – the quintessential Viennese 5-star hotel located directly behind the Vienna State Opera House.
• Palais Coburg – a luxurious five-star hotel in a converted mid-19th century palace.