Assumption Day (Mariä Himmelfahrt) in Austria
About
August 15 is a national public holiday across Austria honouring the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, with herb-bundle blessings (Kräuterweihe) in churches and a quiet midsummer day off.
Highlights
- Marian feast day, a national non-working day
- Traditional Kräuterweihe (herb-bundle) blessings in churches
- Falls during the Salzburg Festival's peak summer programme
Practical tips
- Shops close, but the Salzburg Festival and tourist sites run as normal
- High season — book restaurants and tours in advance
- A popular day for lakeside outings in the Salzkammergut
Sources
Other upcoming events
Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele)
The world's foremost festival of opera, drama and classical music takes over Salzburg's great houses and squares for around six weeks every summer, anchored by the open-air 'Jedermann' on Domplatz in front of the cathedral.
Almabtrieb at Gruberalm, Hintersee 2026 (Cattle Drive)
A classic SalzburgerLand autumn tradition: at the Gruberalm above Hintersee, herders decorate the cattle with ornate flower-and-mirror headdresses and drive them down from the alpine pasture to the valley, with music, schnapps and farm stalls marking the end of the mountain summer.
Munich Oktoberfest 2026 (191st Wiesn)
The world's largest folk festival takes over Munich's Theresienwiese for over two weeks, with vast beer tents, traditional Bavarian dress, brass bands and a giant funfair. The 191st Oktoberfest runs from late September into early October.