More than 450 balls are held in the city each year, from traditional formal dances to elegant summer galas. The new season will get underway in November 2015 with the Vienna Red Cross Ball, followed by the Hofburg Silvesterball on New Year's Eve. Things really start to pick up during carnival season when one ball follows hot on the heels of another.
The Viennese ball calendar opens on November 11, 2015 at the same time as the carnival season when various dance schools waltz along Graben in the old town. The first ball of the season is the Vienna Red Cross Ball inside City Hall on November 20, 2015. It is followed at the turn of the year by the elegant Hofburg Silvesterball. Held in the staterooms of the former imperial Hofburg palace, it offers a full programme including live performances, gala dinner and fireworks after midnight.
By January the Viennese ball season is in full swing. The Confectioner's Ball at the Hofburg (Jan 14, 2016) is immediately followed by the Flower Ball inside City Hall (Jan 15, 2016). 24 hours later, the inaugural Vienna Boys' Choir Ball (Jan 16, 2016) at the Kursalon, is expected to attract numerous big-name artists. The Vienna Philharmonic Ball (Jan 21, 2016) at the Musikverein is another major highlight. Vienna's classic gay and lesbian ball, the Rainbow Ball, is held at the Parkhotel Schönbrunn on January 30, 2016. Held on the same evening, the Vienna Science Ball (Jan 30, 2016) will see the capital's scientific and research community flock to City Hall. The absolute highlight of the season is the Opera Ball at the Vienna State Opera (Feb 4, 2016), after which some of the guests head to the Rose Ball at the Kursalon to see the night out. And anyone still in good enough shape to keep the party going has two events to choose from the following night: the Coffeehouse Owners' Ball at the Hofburg and the Bonbon Ball at the Konzerthaus.
And that's just a handful of the events on the 2015/16 ball calendar; check www.vienna.info for an overview of all the main ball events in the capital.