Art and History

The Burgtheater in Vienna is not only one of the world’s most important theaters, but also a historic landmark on Vienna’s Ringstraße.

Austria’s National Theater originated at Michaelerplatz near the Hofburg, where Maria Theresa had a building used for ball games converted into a theater in 1741. This new “Theater next to the Castle” opened in 1748. On February 17, 1776, Emperor Joseph II elevated it to the “German National Theater,” which now fell under the administration of the court. As part of the redesign of Vienna’s Ringstrasse, the theater—by then known as the “Imperial and Royal Hofburg Theater”—moved in 1888 to its current building on the Ringstrasse, designed by Gottfried Semper and Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer. The ceilings above the grand staircases were designed by Gustav Klimt, his brother Ernst, and Franz Matsch. In 1945, a bombing raid and a subsequent fire destroyed the stage and the auditorium; by 1955, the building had already been rebuilt in its original form. The 31-meter-wide stage is equipped with a state-of-the-art revolving cylinder for quick scene changes. A distinctive feature of the building is the “Blasengel” (blowing angel), depicted on the commemorative stamp and printed in relief: This weather vane on the roof marks the culmination of the historic air fountain system, a complex ventilation system for the auditorium.

With approximately 70 ensemble members, the Burgtheater is the largest theater in the German-speaking world. At “the Burg,” not only are major classics performed, but new paths in the art of theater are also explored through world premieres.

^{Photo 1 (v.l.): Walter Oblin (CEO, Österreichische Post AG) Robert Beutler (Commercial Director of Burgtheater GmbH), Stefan Bachmann (Artistic Director of Burgtheater GmbH)} 

When: March 20, 2026, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Where: Burgtheater, Universitätsring 2, 1010 Vienna