Category: Austrian News

The City of Vienna is preparing a broad package of fee increases as part of its ongoing efforts to stabilize municipal finances. A collective amendment, soon to be voted on in the state parliament, will raise costs across several areas—including administrative charges, dog taxes, and public-space usage fees. Administrative Fees City officials note that many fees have remained unchanged for decades despite rising expenses. Under the new amendment, the maximum cap for administrative fees will jump from €1,500 to €4,000. While exact rates will be set later by decree, around…

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A new Marketagent study takes a close look at how people in Austria plan to celebrate Christmas in 2025. The results show a clear picture. Even in a year shaped by rising prices and global tension, many hold tight to the core of what the holiday means to them. At the top of the list are simple ideas: family, the Christmas tree, and tradition. Cookies and Advent wreaths remain cherished staples. More than half of all respondents say that spending time with loved ones is the most important part of…

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For many people in Vienna, St. Nicholas Day is still an emotionally important custom in the run-up to Christmas. A survey conducted by KMU Forschung Austria for the Vienna Chamber of Commerce shows that 61 percent want to celebrate December 6 with family or friends. For 46 percent, filling bags and eating together are an integral part of the St. Nicholas tradition. Baking cookies also remains popular, at 20 percent. 17 percent say that someone dresses up as St. Nicholas and visits children. St. Nicholas is an essential source of…

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The new month brings further price increases. Currently, hardly a month goes by without a new price shock. In July, for example, fees for passports, ID cards, and driver’s licenses were drastically increased as part of the current austerity program. This was followed in August by a price increase for the Klimaticket. In December, beer drinkers will be asked to pay up. A total of 18 beer brands and over 100 types of beer from Brau Union will become more expensive on December 1. Gösser, Zipfer, and others will cost…

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Anyone buying a digital vignette online needs to pay attention to the small details. Not only must all the data be correct, but where you buy it is also essential. The annual vignette for 2026 can be purchased from December 1. Drivers should act in a timely manner and not be naive. The digital vignette has several advantages: no sticking on the new vignette or scraping off the old one, no hassle if the windshield breaks, and it covers up to three vehicles with interchangeable license plates. In addition, there…

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2026 savings plan: The federal government is tightening austerity measures, raising age limits, cutting pensions, and increasing the price of the climate ticket—all the details. The three-party coalition of the ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos has been in office since March and has implemented extreme austerity measures since taking office. This was necessary because there is a massive hole in the domestic treasury – a whopping 15 billion euros are missing. The federal government, therefore, had to make cuts – this year alone, numerous areas have seen reductions, subsidies have been…

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On Saturday, a shallow warm front will move in from the west. This means that dense clouds and precipitation will prevail from Vorarlberg to Salzburg and the Waldviertel region already in the morning. The snow line will be between 1,300 and 1,600 meters above sea level, and below that, there is a risk of freezing rain and associated black ice formation. Further to the southeast and south, away from thick fog patches, sunshine will prevail until the afternoon. Then thick clouds will move in here as well. However, little to…

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A new strain of flu is currently spreading in Austria. Experts are urging caution and prevention. The flu is making itself felt earlier than usual this year, by a few weeks. “Influenza virus detections have recently increased in Austria. Compared to previous seasons, this is about two to four weeks earlier,” explains virologist Monika Redlbeger-Fritz from MedUni Vienna and head of the national influenza reference laboratory. In addition, after two relatively harmless flu winters, it looks as if Austria is facing a severe flu epidemic this time around. This is…

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Last year, Austrians donated over a billion euros again. However, with a total of 1.07 billion euros, the overall amount declined slightly for the second year in a row. On Wednesday, the Fundraising Association Austria cited inflation, recession, and a growing number of crisis hotspots as the reasons for this decline. However, the proportion of donors in society (79 percent) is at an all-time high. Donations were particularly affected by the flood disaster in eastern Austria in 2024. Environmental and animal welfare causes also saw an increase. Support for development…

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