Which concert is Vienna's famous annual classical-music New Year's celebration?
Answer
Vienna New Year's Concert
Answer
Vienna New Year's Concert
Vienna's famous annual classical-music celebration is the Vienna New Year's Concert.
The concert is performed by the Vienna Philharmonic in the Musikverein's Golden Hall. Its program centers on music by the Strauss family, especially Johann Strauss II, whose waltzes and polkas are closely associated with Viennese popular culture.
The first concert in the series took place on December 31, 1939, during the Second World War. It moved to January 1 in 1941, and the New Year's Day broadcast became the internationally recognized format. The program is traditionally conducted by a prominent guest conductor rather than a permanent conductor.
The Radetzky March is commonly performed as an encore, with the audience clapping along under the conductor's direction. Television broadcasts now reach audiences in dozens of countries, making the concert one of the most widely viewed classical-music events each year.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026