What Vienna New Year’s Eve concert tradition is broadcast internationally from Austria?

Austria’s internationally broadcast Vienna New Year’s Eve concert tradition is the Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert.

Despite its association with New Year celebrations, the principal concert is held on the morning of January 1 in Vienna’s Musikverein. It is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic and focuses largely on music by members of the Strauss family, especially Johann Strauss II, along with works by related composers.

The program typically includes the “Blue Danube” waltz and the “Radetzky March,” although the exact repertoire changes. Audience participation is particularly associated with clapping during the march. The concert is broadcast to many countries and has become one of Austria’s most recognizable cultural exports.

The tradition began during the Second World War, with the first concert held in 1939. It was originally conducted by Clemens Krauss. The event is sometimes casually called a New Year’s Eve concert, but the famous official performance takes place on New Year’s Day; a separate New Year’s Eve concert is also performed.