PROGRAMME
From 9 July to 9 August 2026, ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival once again brings together the international dance and performance scene in Vienna. In 2026, the festival offers a unique range of contemporary dance and choreography, from Austrian premieres and revivals to world premieres. And many opportunities to dance yourself are at the workshops and research projects, outdoors at Public Moves and at ImPulsTanz Soçial.
Bookings for workshops and research projects start on 15 April 2026. Selected productions go on sale on 6 May 2026, while tickets for all other performances are available from 10 June 2026.
Thanks to the kind support of the Korean Cultural Center Vienna, dance and performance from South Korea take center stage in 2026. Eun-Me Ahn, Korea’s most influential choreographer, comes to Vienna for the first time to show Post-Orientalist Express, internationally celebrated since its premiere in May 2025. The stage work of the artist, described by Deutschlandfunk Kultur as the “Pina Bausch of Asia” blends opulent imagery with intense pop elements, danced by her ensemble in more than 90 costumes, all designed by Ahn herself. Between rituals, K-pop and futuristic club aesthetics, Western and inner-Asian Orientalisms are thrown into turmoil. Also appearing at ImPulsTanz for the first time is Greek choreographer Christos Papadopoulos, who brings the euphoria of life to the stage with My Fierce Ignorant Step. Ten dancers evoke the carefree lightness of youth and fearless trust in a world that was open to us – accompanied by an impressive soundscape inspired by Mikis Theodorakis’ Axion Esti from 1964.
In addition, one can look forward to the return of renowned artists, including US audience favourite Trajal Harrell in a collaboration with Wiener Festwochen, Canadian “century dancer” Louise Lecavalier, and French dancer and choreographer Boris Charmatz with a new solo. Conversations are also underway with TAO Dance Theater, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker / Rosas and Amala Dianor.
Parallel to the performance programme, ImPulsTanz invites the audience to dance themselves: Whether at live concerts and DJ sets at ImPulsTanz Soçial in the popular festival lounge at Burgtheater Vestibül, at the two ImPulsTanz – Party Nights on 7 and 8 August at Arkadenhof at Vienna City Hall, or at over 200 workshops and research projects at Arsenal – with Marta Coronado, Libby Farr, Alleyne Dance and Damien Jalet & Aimilios Arapoglou. The training and further education programmes for young dancers and choreographers danceWEB (mentor: Raja Feather Kelly), ATLAS – create your dance trails (coaches: Angélique Willkie and Christopher Matthews), and ImPacT (mentor: Kerstin Kussmaul) – are also entering their next round.
In 2026, Public Moves popular free taster classes take place once again under open sky in Vienna from June to August and tour parts of the country already from May to July. Every day, different teaching artists share their skills and knowledge not only under Vienna’s open sky, but also in Klagenfurt, Linz, and Salzburg. All ages and levels are welcome!