When is the Independence Day of Austria?

Austria’s National Day is celebrated on October 26 each year. It marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Neutrality in 1955, when Austria declared itself permanently neutral after World War II. This day is a public holiday with official ceremonies, parades, and various cultural events across the country.

Is the Independence Day of Austria a public holiday?

Yes, Austria’s Independence Day on October 26 is a public holiday celebrated nationwide with various ceremonies and events.

History of Austrian National Day

Austria’s National Day has been celebrated since 1955, commemorating the important Declaration of Neutrality. This decision, announced by the Parliament of Austria, marked a constitutional act that declared the country neutral after years of joint occupation by France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1955. The withdrawal of allied forces and the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in May and October of 1955 ended foreign military presence. Since then, neutrality has become a core part of Austrian identity, ingrained in its constitution and international law. As a member of the European Union, Austria has debated whether to maintain or change its neutral status, but this element remains central to the nation. The aftermath of the Second World War left Austria divided into four regions, with the parliament democratically elected but government decisions approved by allied forces until the occupation formally ended. This history is a vital chapter to note on any festive counter, marking the countdown to Austria’s National Day with respect and celebration.

Capital of Austria

Vienna, pronounced vee-EN-ə, also known as Wien in German and Wean in Austro-Bavarian, serves as Austria’s capital and most populous city. It is one of nine federal states and holds the status of primate city with over two million inhabitants in the metropolitan area, accounting for nearly one-third of the country’s population. Vienna is not only the cultural, economic, and political center of Austria but also the fifth-largest city in the European Union. The city lies on the eastern edge of the Vienna Woods, or Wienerwald, in the northeasternmost foothills of the Alps, transitioning to the Pannonian Basin. Situated on the Danube River, which includes the regulated Wienfluss, Vienna is surrounded by Lower Austria and lies close to several neighboring countries like Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Founded as the Roman castrum Vindobona in the 1st century, Vienna has a rich history, evolving through rule by Lombards, Pannonian Avars, Slavs, Baiuvarii, and the Babenbergs, who governed from 976 to 1246. The city gained Roman municipium rights in 212 and was later the seat of the Habsburg emperors of the Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806. As the capital of the Austrian Empire from 1804 onwards, Vienna flourished, becoming a leading German-speaking city during the 18th and 19th centuries with a peak population of two million before Berlin overtook it. The city hosts major international organizations, including the United Nations, OPEC, and OSCE. Its historic center became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, though it was added to the World Heritage in Danger list in 2017. Vienna is famous for its musical heritage, home to classical composers like Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and Johann Strauss, and the first psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. The city’s architecture includes Baroque palaces, gardens, and the grand Ringstraße with monuments and parks. This rich cultural and historical fabric makes Vienna a perfect setting for Austria’s festive counter, inviting both locals and visitors to mark the countdown to festivals and important national events with pride and joy.