List of balls in Vienna

Below is a list of balls in Vienna, the capital of Austria.

The first balls in Vienna were held in the 18th century. Today, 450 balls are held in the city. The ball season runs during Carnival from 11 November to Shrove Tuesday in February, although others are scheduled throughout the year.[1] Most balls are formal events where dancers wear a gown, tuxedo, or formal traditional Austrian dress. Traditional balls such as the Vienna Opera Ball open with debutantes performing a polonaise, followed by a choreographed waltz such as the viennese waltz.[2] Traditional ball etiquette also involves the use of dance cards and presentation of "Damenspenden", or spending gifts, to the young women attending the ball.[3] In 2018, the Vienna Chamber of Commerce estimated over 500,000 people would attend a ball that season and spend €139,000,000 on the events.[4] The ball season has also attracted political controversy. The Vienna Ball of Sciences was founded in 2015 as an alternative to the Academics’ Ball, which was sponsored by the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria and is frequently protested.[5][1]