National Day celebrations: Austria commemorates its neutrality!

National Day celebrations: Austria commemorates its neutrality!

On October 26, 2025, Austria celebrated its national holiday with a variety of events honoring the country's "perpetual neutrality." Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and the federal government laid wreaths in the consecration room of the Outer Castle Gate on Vienna's Heldenplatz. This ceremony served to commemorate fallen soldiers and the victims of the resistance. This year marked a special anniversary, as Austria's neutrality has now been celebrated for 70 years and the national holiday has been celebrated for 60 years. The festivities began with the federal anthem and the honor by Commander-in-Chief Van der Bellen and Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. Vienna.at reports that following the wreath-laying ceremony, other high-ranking politicians also took part in the celebrations.

In order to strengthen the connection with the population, numerous institutions and ministries opened their doors to the public on the national holiday. The parliament, the Hofburg and the Federal Chancellery enabled those interested to experience guided tours. A total of around 10,000 people were expected in Parliament, where parliamentary group stands with information and goodies were waiting for visitors. In addition, the FPÖ celebrated its own “neutrality festival” behind parliament. Defense Minister Tanner was available to take photos and selfies and warmly welcomed those present.

Exhibition of the Federal Army

An important highlight of the celebrations was the impressive performance display of the Federal Army on Heldenplatz. Not only armored vehicles and a Eurofighter model were presented, but also the “Black Hawk” helicopter that flew over the square. There was also a spectacular swearing-in of new recruits, conducted by Defense Minister Tanner at lunchtime. ORF.at highlights that over a thousand recruits were also ceremoniously sworn in, followed by speeches from prominent politicians, including Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig, who emphasized the importance of neutrality in times of crisis.

In the speeches, Nehammer, the outgoing Chancellor, expressed clear positions on neutrality and pointed to current threats to democracy, including the war in Europe and disinformation campaigns. He called on political parties to distance themselves from a planned demonstration on November 9th. This call found support from Van der Bellen, who underlined the relevance of an efficient federal army for state resilience.

Cultural offers and free entrances

In addition to the official celebrations, many museums in Austria offered free admission and special programs to mark the national holiday. Open days also took place in public institutions in the federal states, which increased the opportunity for citizens to actively participate in the celebrations.