Which march traditionally concludes the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert?

The Radetzky March traditionally concludes the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert.

Johann Strauss I composed the Radetzky March in 1848 and named it after Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz. The march became popular as a patriotic military piece and later gained a lasting place in Vienna's New Year's concert tradition. Its bright, strongly marked rhythm makes it especially effective as a celebratory finale.

During performances, audiences commonly clap along with the beat. The conductor often responds by shaping the tempo and dynamics, turning the applause into part of the event. This participation is one reason the piece is recognizable even to viewers who do not regularly attend classical concerts.

The Radetzky March is normally the final encore, following “The Blue Danube,” which is also closely associated with the concert. The two works are sometimes described as the concert's official ending, but the march is the customary last number. The concert itself takes place on New Year's Day, not New Year's Eve.