Vienna hosts the Vienna New Year's Concert, traditionally performed by the Vienna Philharmonic. The concert takes place in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein and is one of the world's most widely broadcast classical-music events.
Its program focuses mainly on music by the Strauss family, especially Johann Strauss II, along with works by related composers. The repertoire commonly includes waltzes, polkas, and marches, creating a distinctive musical link with Vienna's ballroom tradition.
The first concert in the series was held on December 31, 1939. From 1941 onward, the main concert was scheduled on January 1, while a dress rehearsal and broadcast traditions developed around the event.
Despite its New Year's association, the concert is not held at midnight. It is a daytime New Year's Day performance, usually ending with the “Blue Danube” and the “Radetzky March.”