New Year’s Day in Austria
New Year’s Day falls on 1 January and is a public holiday under Austria’s Arbeitsruhegesetz. The day’s most distinctive Austrian cultural event is the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert, a tradition with a complicated wartime history.[1][3]
A fixed public holiday
Austria’s Arbeitsruhegesetz names 1 January (Neujahr) among the country’s public holidays. Employees are entitled to an uninterrupted rest period of at least 24 hours, beginning between midnight and 6 a.m. on the holiday.[1]
The law also protects pay when work is missed because of a public holiday. An employee who works during holiday rest is entitled to the usual holiday pay as well as payment for the work, unless compensatory time off is agreed under the law.[2]
The Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert
The Vienna Philharmonic presents a New Year’s programme drawing on music by the Johann Strauß family and their contemporaries. Its current official history traces the concert tradition to performances during the Second World War: a Strauß-family concert took place on 31 December 1939, and a Philharmonic matinee called the “Johann Strauss Concert” was held on 1 January 1941.[3]
The orchestra’s own account describes the first concerts as an ambivalent part of Austria’s history: proceeds from the 1939 performance went to a Nazi fundraising campaign, and the 1941 event was used for Nazi propaganda. The concert continued after the war and became an annual New Year’s event; the Philharmonic says its programme is now broadcast internationally.[3]
Shops and planning
Shops in Austria are generally closed on public holidays, according to the Austrian Economic Chamber. The chamber notes that exceptions to closing can be provided for, so travelers should check local opening information rather than assume every shop follows the same schedule.[4]
The holiday law establishes a rest entitlement for employees. Check opening hours with the office or bank before you go, and check the timetable with your transport operator.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Is New Year’s Day a public holiday in Austria?
Yes. The Arbeitsruhegesetz lists 1 January (Neujahr) as a public holiday and provides employees with at least 24 hours of uninterrupted rest.[1]
Do employees have the day off?
Are shops open on New Year’s Day?
Shops are generally closed on public holidays, with exceptions possible. Check the particular shop or local opening rules before making plans.[4]
Is there a replacement day if 1 January falls on a weekend?
The law says that when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, Sunday rest rules apply; it does not name a general replacement date.[1]
What should I check before traveling around Austria that day?
Check the relevant transport operator, public office or bank directly for its holiday schedule.
Sources and references
Sources used for New Year's Day in Austria:
- Bundesrecht konsolidiert: Arbeitsruhegesetz § 7, tagesaktuelle Fassung- Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes
- Bundesrecht konsolidiert: Arbeitsruhegesetz § 9, tagesaktuelle Fassung- Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes
- Tradition and History- Vienna Philharmonic
- Öffnungszeiten im Handel und abweichenden Regelungen- Wirtschaftskammer Österreich