Art & Culture News
Introduction
Too cold to be outdoors? Winter is (also) culture season. Here's what's new in Austria in that department.
The Sisi Museum in Vienna is expanding its visitor tour by twelve additional rooms and giving the exhibition a new thematic focus. In Klagenfurt, a dedicated museum for Udo Jürgens is being created, focusing on the life and work of the Carinthia-born musician. And at Semmering, the “Südbahnbühne” is turning the historic Südbahnhotel into a venue for history, literature, and architecture, with guided tours and cultural events.
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Expansion of the Sisi Museum
From 19 November 2026, visitors will be able to explore the expanded and newly redesigned tour of the Sisi Museum. Twelve additional rooms will be incorporated into the museum tour, providing the basis for a new thematic focus.
The aim is to present Empress Elisabeth’s world and way of life in greater detail, while also highlighting the connection with the Imperial Apartments and the Imperial Silver Collection.
A key element of the redesign is the inclusion of the five so-called White Gold Rooms, dating from the Rococo period. These rooms have never previously been open to the public. Their intimate character reflects their original function as private retreats for the imperial family and their court.
Guided tours at the Südbahnhotel on the Semmering
Under the title “Südbahnbühne Semmering,” writer Heike Dobrovolny and educational scientist Irene Beckmann have been organizing guided tours and cultural events since summer 2026. The focus is on the legendary Südbahnhotel on the Semmering.
Opened in 1882, this architectural gem was once a grand hotel and remained closed for many years before reopening a few years ago as a cultural venue. Guided tours such as “Where the World Comes to Stay,” “The Architecture of Summer Retreats,” and “Literature on the Semmering” are also available in late autumn.
For next spring and summer, early booking is recommended, as tickets are in high demand.
Udo Jürgens Museum to open in May 2027
Hits such as “Merci, Chérie” and “Griechischer Wein” are known by almost everyone in the German-speaking part of Europe. They were composed and performed by Udo Jürgens, who was born in Klagenfurt in 1934 and died in 2014. His career as a singer, composer and pianist spanned almost 60 years.
In 1966, he won the Eurovision Song Contest for Austria with “Merci, Chérie.” The list of his awards and honours is extensive.
“UDO JÜRGENS im kärnten.museum” will create a dedicated “museum within the museum” covering around 400 square metres. The opening is scheduled for May 2027.
The exhibition will explore the history of his family, his childhood and youth, his musical beginnings around Lake Wörthersee, his life’s work, and his international career.
Read more (Link in German
Introduction
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Sisi Museum Vienna
© Austrian National Tourist Office / Cross Media Redaktion
Sisi Museum Vienna
© Austrian National Tourist Office / Cross Media Redaktion
Carinthia Museum in Klagenfurt
© Kärnten Werbung / Andreas Siebenhofer