Bregenz Festival opens its 80th edition with ceremonies and performances

The 80th Bregenz Festival (Bregenzer Festspiele) began on Wednesday with a red‑carpet opening in Bregenz, Austria. Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen attended, while Chancellor Christian Stocker was absent. Organisers forecast dry weather for the opening night, which featured Giuseppe Verdi’s “La traviata” staged on the lake‑side platform. The programme also includes a performance of Leoš Janáček’s “The Excursions of Mr Brouček” and a series of concerts, theatre, contemporary music and other events totaling 80 presentations through 23 August.

The festival employs about 1,200 staff and collaborators from 30 nations and operates on a €25 million annual budget. A parallel free “Gratifest” offers around 10 000 complimentary tickets, 78 program items across 40 venues, and activities such as costume‑making workshops, art‑museum tours, and charitable ice‑cream sales.

The opening marks a major cultural moment for the region, drawing thousands of visitors to the lakeside venue and surrounding venues in Bregenz and nearby Salzburg.