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3 April 2026

Vienna’s Climate Biennale returns with citywide programme

Aerial panoramic view of Vienna cityscape in bright spring sunlight

A citywide festival on climate and culture

From 9 April to 10 May 2026, Vienna hosts the second edition of the Klima Biennale Wien, organised by KunstHausWien. Following its debut in 2024, the festival returns as a transdisciplinary platform connecting art, science and society. Under the leitmotif "Unspeakable Worlds", the biennale addresses dimensions of the climate crisis that go beyond language, focusing on perception, interconnected systems and collective futures. The festival was initiated and is financed by the City of Vienna, with additional support from public institutions and sponsors such as UniCredit Bank Austria. More than 50 partner institutions contribute to the programme, which unfolds across over 60 locations throughout the city. The format combines exhibitions, public space interventions, talks, panels and educational initiatives. Weekly thematic focuses structure the extensive programme, ranging from opening days to public space projects and participatory formats.

Institutions engage with climate narratives

Major Viennese cultural institutions are actively involved, including MAK – Museum of Applied Arts and the Weltmuseum Wien. Their contributions reflect the biennale's central theme by exploring climate issues through artistic and design perspectives.

At MAK, the exhibition "Soft Image, Brittle Grounds" by Felix Lenz examines digital and material fragility in contemporary image production, linking environmental instability with technological systems. The discourse resonates with broader international debates, including Austria's contributions to the Milan Triennale on digital technologies in art.

A different approach is presented at the Weltmuseum Wien with "SUPERFLUX. The Craftocene", which explores regenerative design and speculative futures. The exhibition proposes alternative models of living and production in response to ecological challenges, aligning with ongoing discussions on regenerative practices.

From urban laboratories to design research

The programme also highlights experimental formats such as the Labor by Biofabrique Vienna, an initiative of the Vienna Business Agency. Positioned between research, design and production, Biofabrique Vienna acts as a platform for material innovation and circular design processes, reflecting the biennale's focus on practical and speculative solutions.

These contributions illustrate how long-term developments in Vienna's cultural landscape are integrated into the biennale. Rather than isolated projects, they form part of a broader ecosystem that links artistic production with urban, social and environmental questions.

Alongside exhibitions, the biennale includes numerous talks, panels and networking formats. Given the density of events across the city, visitors are advised to plan their schedules in advance to navigate key locations and thematic highlights.

A hospitality partner as social meeting point

Among the programme partners is The Social Hub Vienna, a hybrid hospitality concept located near Praterstern. Opened in 2020 under the name "The Student Hotel" and rebranded in 2022, the venue combines hotel accommodation with co-working, cultural spaces and community programming. Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Charlie MacGregor, the brand positions itself at the intersection of hospitality and social impact. As a certified B Corp, it focuses on sustainability, community building and inclusive urban development. During the biennale, The Social Hub hosts international artists and participants, including contributors to exhibitions and the Vienna Climate Summit. Its infrastructure—ranging from co-working areas to a rooftop terrace—supports both production and exchange. This alignment with the biennale's values is evident: both emphasise collaboration, participation and ecological responsibility. With its public spaces, restaurant and event formats, The Social Hub has the potential to become an informal meeting point for visitors and participants throughout the festival.


Image: AI-generated aerial view of Vienna on a clear spring day, showing a broad urban landscape with historic and contemporary architecture under blue skies. Photo: © Fashion.at / Generated with ChatGPT (OpenAI)