Press Conference on the 2026 Lienz Summer Festival at the Osttirol Tourist Board: Music, Cuisine, and Community Right in the Heart of the City

From August 7 to 9, 2026, downtown Lienz will once again be transformed into a colorful festival district. The Lienz Summer Festival is organized by the Osttirol Tourism Association in close collaboration with the City of Lienz and 30 local clubs. Once again this year, visitors can look forward to a weekend full of music, culinary delights, and genuine Osttirolian joie de vivre—with free admission and a program for all generations. At the press conference, LA DIin Elisabeth Blanik and TVB Osttirol Chairman Franz Theurl presented the concept for the festival.

Theurl: “Thanks to a successful partnership with the City of Lienz, the Osttirol Tourism Association, as the organizer, was able to delight nearly 30,000 guests and locals at last year’s summer festival. We once again cordially invite locals and visitors to enjoy free admission, listen to nearly 60 bands, DJs, and marching bands, sample the food at the clubs’ food stands, and take in the atmosphere of our charming Old Town.” It is also important to Theurl to offer local clubs the opportunity to raise funds for youth programs in the district. Elisabeth Blanik adds: “At this festival, tradition meets modernity, and young meets old. There really is something for everyone. For me, it’s all about celebrating together.”

The summer festival’s slogan not only stands for a diverse program but also sends a strong message of community spirit in action. This is made possible by the dedication, solidarity, and enthusiasm of the clubs, the tourism association, and the municipality, all of which work closely together. At the press conference, Blanik and Theurl emphasized the excellent collaboration between the TVB team and the city’s public works department. Blanik: “This festival is a major challenge for TVB Osttirol and the municipality, and over the past two years it has certainly gone off without a hitch and been a success. I’m looking forward to it, and now we’re all hoping for good weather.” Theurl also emphasized at the press conference how important the principle of community is to the organizers: “We’ve made sure that food and beverage prices won’t go up. Even families on a tight budget should be able to enjoy the summer festival.”

In the Old Town, eight venues will be transformed into stages for over 60 acts, most of whom are once again from the region this year. They’ll perform brass band music, Austropop, rock, singer-songwriter music, club sounds, and Latin rhythms. The main square in front of the Liebburg traditionally serves as the centerpiece of the grand opening. The bands on the main square bring an international vibe all the way to the outdoor seating areas of the restaurants and bars. In 2026, the stage on the market square will once again be an integral part of the program. In the so-called “Latin Zone,” Latin American rhythms will get visitors dancing. The BORG grounds will become the “Acoustic Zone” and feature singer-songwriters from the region. At the other end of the festival grounds, in the Mühlgasse parking lot, the “Beat Zone” will feature rousing live performances by local bands. Johannesplatz is the spot for up-and-coming musicians, local heroes, and Austropop. In the Klostergarten, brass and folk music will once again take center stage, complemented by an expanded family program and even more food stands. The Electronic Zone in the Erlach parking lot is once again reserved exclusively for DJs this year. It’s ideal for teenagers, as it’s located near Zwergergasse, a popular spot among partygoers. In Zwergergasse, a DJ will also be spinning on an open-air stage on Friday and Saturday.

The main square will feature two new attractions this year. A nostalgic train and a children’s carousel will make kids’ eyes light up, and the popular shooting gallery is moving from the monastery garden to the main square. As a result, the area in front of the Liebburg will offer even more variety for families and invite them to spend time together at the summer festival.

The heart of the festival is camaraderie—and that includes regional cuisine: 30 clubs invite visitors to their booths and treat them to regional delicacies—from grilled foods to vegetarian options to sweets. Once again this year, the handy Lienz Summer Festival fold-out map—which will be available shortly—will help you navigate the wide variety of offerings.

Sunday is all about brass band music and families in the monastery garden and on the main square. Following the festive Mass and the morning drinks, brass bands, choirs, and children’s attractions will provide a festive finale to the 2026 Lienz Summer Festival.

• Free admission
• 8 Places & Hotspots in Downtown Lienz
• Fri, Aug. 7 & Sat, Aug. 8, 2026
• Hours: 5:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. | Sun, Aug. 9: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• On Sunday, as usual, the festival wraps up with a church service and folk music—this year in the monastery garden and on the main square
• Nearly 60 bands, marching bands, and DJs
• Even more food and drink options this year: 30 clubs with food and drink stands
• Information about the festival on osttirol.com: Lienz Summer Festival | Osttirol Tourism

Download the press release as a PDF