Festspiele Reichenau

The Reichenau Festival is a renowned Lower Austrian summer theater festival, embedded in the traditional summer resort region on the Rax. Since it was founded in 1988, it has continued to develop and is now one of the mainstays of the Austrian festival summer with around 40,000 visitors a year.

The festival was realigned in 2022: Actress and director Maria Happel took over as artistic director and led the festival into a new era. With the selection of top-class directors and actresses as well as a well thought-out selection of plays, the tradition is preserved on the one hand, while at the same time looking to the future.

Program and venues

The Festival's program thrives on diversity: it combines the classical with the contemporary, the tragic with the comic. Performances take place in two halls - in the traditional Great Hall with its parterre, mezzanine and balcony, and in the New Performance Hall, where the audience is seated around the central stage. This special arrangement creates an arena atmosphere that makes the performances of the actors - including Burgtheater stars and well-known TV actors - seem even more intense.

Reichenau Castle has also established itself as a venue for the popular children's performances. A special highlight in 2025 was the return of the festival to the historic Südbahnhotel am Semmering. From 1 July to 2 August 2026, the festival will once again open its doors and invite you to enjoy a diverse theatrical experience.

Travel recommendation

A visit to the festival can be ideally combined with a stay in Reichenau an der Rax. The region offers a varied program that combines culture and nature to create an unforgettable overall experience.

Did you know?

The Reichenau Festival is accessible with theRUFbus Semmering-Raxeasy and convenient to reach (stop Theater Reichenau RE46)