Karl May Festival takes a creative break – new adventures in 2026!

Karl May Festival takes a creative break – new adventures in 2026!

The Karl May Festival in the Winzendorf quarry near Wiener Neustadt is taking a creative break and will not be performed again until 2026. After more than two decades in which audiences were thrilled by the adventures of the famous writer Karl May, especially the legendary characters Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, the team around director Martin Exel is planning a comprehensive further development of the concept. This decision, as well noe.ORF.at reported, is intended to make the festival even more family-friendly and spectacular.

“The break allows us to develop new ideas and recharge our energy to offer viewers an unforgettable experience in 2026,” explained Exel. The Karl May Festival has attracted many visitors since its founding in 1994 and is an important part of the region's cultural offering. The impressive setting of the quarry will also play a central role in the future performance, assured the director. “Viewers can already look forward to new highlights that present Karl May’s adventure stories even more impressively,” he added.

Creative time out for new ideas

The decision to take a break comes as no surprise as the event has continued to grow over the years. With the break, the organizers want to ensure that the next chapter of the festival maintains and even exceeds the high level of previous performances. These measures are considered necessary in order to inspire future cross-generational viewers, which also ensures the relevance of the event in the cultural calendar MyDistrict.at emphasized.