City of Vienna and Bank Austria: Top-class art for everyone with Wiener Symphoniker
- UniCredit Bank Austria is the new general sponsor of Wiener Symphoniker
The Wiener Symphoniker are the orchestra of the City of Vienna and offers the highest musical quality at an international level. UniCredit Bank Austria has been gained as the new general sponsor, which was announced today at a joint press conference held by the City of Vienna, the Wiener Symphoniker and UniCredit Bank Austria. The collaboration will focus on orchestra programs that are open to a wide audience or freely accessible. As announced last year, UniCredit Bank Austria is thus expanding its sponsorship activities in the cultural sector with the aim of making top-class art accessible to the general public.
Michael Ludwig, Mayor of the City of Vienna, emphasises: “The Wiener Symphoniker stand for musical excellence and a cultural understanding that includes everyone in our city like no other orchestra. I am delighted that UniCredit Bank Austria, a strong private company, is committed to the cultural sector and is thus making an important contribution to easy and freely accessible cultural offerings. Such partnerships make top-class art accessible to all Viennese citizens – and that is precisely the Viennese approach to responsible, social and open cultural policy.”
Ivan Vlaho, CEO of UniCredit Bank Austria: “We are very proud to be the new general sponsor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. As part of the reorganisation and expansion of our cultural sponsorship, we are focusing on cultural offerings that are open to a wide audience. We want to provide easy accessible, yet high-quality approach to art and culture. In a nutshell, this means that we promote top-class art for a broad audience. This is Bank Austria's new guideline for cultural sponsorship.”
Jan Nast, Artistic Director of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, says: “This partnership confirms our path of being an orchestra for everyone and focusing unconditionally on quality. For me, UniCredit Bank Austria's commitment shows that culture creates values of cohesion, community and solidarity – for society and the economy alike.”
Highlights of the Wiener Symphoniker partnership with UniCredit Bank Austria
With its rich history and enduring joy of discovery, the Wiener Symphoniker are the beating heart of Vienna as the metropolis of classical music. With around 180 concerts per season, the orchestra shapes the musical culture of its home city, managing to link the past, present and future. In addition to the major cycles at the Wiener Konzerthaus and the Musikverein Wien, the Orchestra regularly performs at unusual concert venues throughout Vienna, making it accessible to all Viennese residents. The cooperation between UniCredit Bank Austria and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra focuses on the following concerts:
- The “Beisl” concerts on 13 May 2026 around Yppenplatz in Ottakring, where ensembles from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra will perform in various venues in the 16th district – all with free admission and in a cosy atmosphere.
- A chamber concert at Bank Austria Park in spring 2026 with free admission
- The Wiener Symphoniker’s Prater Picnic on 1 and 2 July 2026 with Ilia Staple, Rolando Villazón, Teya and Holly Hyun Choe on the Kaiserwiese in the Prater. ORF 2 will broadcast the concert on Friday, 3 July.
- Vienna Advent on 16 December 2026 at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna with Christiane Karg, Lucas van Lierop and Elim Chan. ORF III will broadcast the concert on the 4th Sunday of Advent at 20:15.
Current survey: Viennese population supports “cultural partnerships” with companies
UniCredit Bank Austria recently conducted a representative survey of the Viennese population (institute: IFDD, 1,009 respondents, Viennese population aged 16 and over, period: 22–26 December 2025), which also asked about the acceptance of partnerships between private companies and the public sector, specifically the City of Vienna, for the implementation of cultural offerings.
The result is clear: with 69 per cent, a large majority of Viennese residents support cooperation between the City of Vienna and private companies to realise projects and offerings in the field of art and culture. Easy accessible offerings free of charge are particularly important to the Viennese population. 74 percent of Viennese consider it very important or somewhat important for banks to be socially and culturally engaged. 92 percent say that traditional orchestras such as the Wiener Symphoniker are important for Vienna as a cultural centre.
Enquiries:
Stadt Wien
Bernhard Muttenthaler; Phone: +43 1 4000 81857
E-Mail: bernhard.muttenthaler@wien.gv.at
Wiener Symphoniker
Julia Brüggemann, Phone: +43 (0)664 88426319
E-Mail: j.brueggemann@wienersymphoniker.at
UniCredit Bank Austria Media Relations
Matthias Raftl, Phone: +43 (0) 5 05 05-52809;
E-Mail: matthias.raftl@unicreditgroup.at