New Year in Innsbruck: Dazzling events at the vibrant heart of the alps
Last updated on 02.01.2019
Celebrate and take time out. Go shopping and gaze in wonder. Experience culture and enjoy nature. As we look forward to welcoming in the New Year, Tyrol’s capital will be thrilling its visitors with a dazzling explosion of possibilities, and the proverbial highlight of Innsbruck‘s three-day ‘New Year’s Eve in the Mountains’ is a spectacular fireworks display.
Celebrate and take time out. Go shopping and gaze in wonder. Experience culture and enjoy nature. As we look forward to welcoming in the New Year, Tyrol’s capital will be thrilling its visitors with a dazzling explosion of possibilities, and the proverbial highlight of Innsbruck‘s three-day ‘New Year’s Eve in the Mountains’ is a spectacular fireworks display.
Innsbruck is a fascinating place, especially around New Year because this is the time when the “heart of the Alps” beats to a very special rhythm. With the Old Town’s historic alleys and against the backdrop of the breathtaking mountains, visitors to Innsbruck can stroll through the bustling city, enjoy the romantic atmosphere and also find moments for quiet reflection. From 30 December to 1 January there’s plenty to keep everyone happy, from party animals keen to let their hair down, families looking for adventure and sports fans eager for action.
A great time for our young visitors
Play, marvel, have fun. In the build-up to Innsbruck’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, the emphasis is very much on our young visitors. From 2 pm on 30 December, the Zwergerlsilvester (Children’s New Years’ Eve Party), sees the picturesque streets in the Old Town transformed into a winter wonderland for families. Lots of attractions and play areas provide a wide range of entertainments to keep everyone in high spirits. And at about 5.30 pm there‘s a stunning fireworks display for young and old outside the new House of Music.
Rhythms, beats and tunes
Be in no doubt: the world famous Donauwalzer (Blue Danube Waltz) at midnight is the musical highlight of Innsbruck‘s New Year’s Eve in the Mountains. But from the morning of 31 December, Tyrol’s capital is already alive with the sound of music. To the accompaniment of the “swinging” sounds of Dixie Brass Tirol, the countdown to the New Year begins with a New Year’s Eve early morning drink outside the Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl). Before the Tyrolean pop group “Farbarena” starts to whip up the excitement at 9 pm, it’s not only athletes who put on their running shoes at 4 pm to take part in the 18th Innsbruck New Year’s Eve Run, because the event also has competitions for the whole family and is a great way to see out the old year at speed.
A multi-faceted fireworks display
From 8 pm, lovers of classical music can look forward to the broadcast of the dance theatre “Frida Kahlo – Nueva Pasión” from the Kammerspiele outside the House of Music. Afterwards the beats of DJ instyle create an international party mood, and all Queen fans can then look forward to a real treat at the “Queen Tribute Band” concert. Mountain climbers are drawn to the Seegrube mountain and restaurant where a New Year’s Eve party takes place in a unique Alpine setting at more than 2,000 metres above sea level, and the fireworks display is arguably the most beautiful in the whole province – though the Pyro Show down in the valley is actually no less impressive. For the first time, hundreds of fireworks will be set off on the roof of the Innsbruck Congress Centre, welcoming in 2019 with a dazzling spectacle. In the early hours of the New Year, this venue attracts dance fanatics and party animals, and at Tyrol’s largest New Year’s Eve Clubbing in the Dogana the dancing and partying to the beats of the German star DJ Le Shuuk goes on into the small hours.
Legendary sounds
The traditional Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert enjoys a worldwide reputation. After the successful premiere last year, visitors to Innsbruck can again enjoy the full programme in a live transmission on a big screen, and between the Imperial Palace and the House of Music the New Year will be celebrated in style with music by the Strauss dynasty. But Innsbruck’s musicians would also like to invite you to a New Year’s concert, and the Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra will be playing in the Congress from 5 pm. Their concert is dedicated to the Year of Maximilian, but the programme also features contemporary pieces.
A brilliant start to the anniversary year
2019 is a special year for the whole of Tyrol as it marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Emperor Maximilian, who particularly appreciated the “Land in the Mountains”. The start to the anniversary year took place in November 2018 with the premiere of the Lightshow Max 500. Right up to 20 January visitors to the inner courtyard of the Imperial Place (Hofburg) can embark on this journey through time – a spectacular, audio-visual 3D light projection, as well on New Year’s Day (at 6 or 7 pm)
You’ll find more details and information at www.bergsilvester.at, and about the Lightshow at www.innsbruck.info/max500