Have you ever heard of a festival where 20,000 musicians perform simultaneously and over 100,000 visitors celebrate together? Welcome to Woodstock of Brass Music in Austria β Europe’s largest brass music festival! What started in 2011 as a small event with 31 bands and 8,000 visitors in Kopfing im Innkreis has become today’s gigantic, four-day spectacle in Ort im Innkreis that captivates the entire brass music world.
This article is your ultimate guide through the entire Woodstock universe. We show you not only what makes the main festival so unique, but also take you on musical journeys that take place throughout the year β from Winter Woodstock in the Tyrolean Alps to the Brass Cruise in the Mediterranean.
πΊ The Heart: Woodstock of Brass Music in Summer
The main festival remains and will always be the magnetic attraction for all brass fans. It traditionally takes place on the last weekend in June at the Woodstock Arco Area in Ort im Innkreis (Upper Austria).
What Awaits You Here
Overwhelming Dimensions: Imagine over 150 acts and bands spread across 9 stages throughout the grounds playing non-stop music for four days. The line-up covers the entire spectrum of brass music β from traditional sounds through brass punk, funk, ska and electronic experiments.
The Magical Grand Finale: An absolute highlight you shouldn’t miss! During the Grand Finale, thousands of musicians who are actually attending as visitors come together and play a joint concert under the baton of a conductor. In 2024, 20,000 musicians participated β a spine-tingling moment of the highest order.
Festival for the Whole Family: Since 2023, Sunday is officially Family Day. Families enjoy free admission on this day and children have their own program with face painting, craft stations and a “mini grand finale”.
Dates and Tickets
The organizers plan far in advance, so you can plan your festival summer now:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | July 2-5 |
| 2027 | July 1-4 |
| 2028 | June 29 – July 2 |
| 2029 | June 28 – July 1 |
Ticket prices tend to increase slightly over time. A 4-day ticket for 2025 cost β¬209 in advance. Tip: Buy your tickets early because Saturday and Sunday tickets usually sell out first.
βοΈ Winter Woodstock of Brass Music (WWDB)
Think brass music only happens in summer? Far from it! The Winter Woodstock of Brass Music transforms the Tyrolean Brixental (Brixen, Kirchberg, Westendorf) every March into a winter festival landscape with “Brass Music on the Rocks”.
Hut Celebrations and Concert Pleasure
Concerts take place at at least eight locations spread across the three villages. With the “Winter Woodstock Traffic Light System” on the website, you always know where there’s still space and where the party is in full swing. The 2026 line-up is being finalized, with confirmed acts including Oimara with Band, Druckluft and the Innsbruck Bohemians.
Winter Woodstock Dates:
WWDB 2026: March 20-22, 2026
WWDB 2027: March 19-21, 2027
WWDB 2028: March 24-26, 2028
π The Other Facets of the Woodstock Universe
The Woodstock idea is so vibrant that it takes different forms and happens in the most diverse locations. Here’s an overview of other events:
| Event | Period | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodstock Academy | Oct. 24-30, 2025 | St. Gilgen, Strobl, St. Wolfgang | A training week with workshops for musicians from amateur to professional level. |
| Brass Palmas | Sept. 18-21, 2025 | BaΕ‘ka, Croatia | “Brass Music in the Sun” β the Woodstock Beach Club by the sea enters its seventh round. |
| Woodstock Wine Tour | Apr. 24-26, 2026 | Illmitz, Burgenland | Brass music combined with culinary and exquisite wine delights from wine country Burgenland. |
| Brass Cruise | Apr. 28 – May 2, 2026 | Mediterranean (Genoa-Barcelona-Marseille) | The first Woodstock cruise for globally minded brass fans. |
| Woodstock in Concert | Feb. 2026 | 8 cities in AT & DE | Concert series in opera houses and concert halls, 2026 featuring Federspiel and their program “Us & Now”. |
π‘ Practical Tips for Your Festival Visit
Cashless Payment: Everything on the festival grounds is set up for cashless transactions. You load your festival wristband with an RFID chip with credit and pay with it at all stands. You can even get any remaining credit transferred back to your account online after the festival.
Arrival and Transportation: Take advantage of the excellent public transportation options. On the main festival grounds, you can even borrow a free transport wagon from HORNBACH to get your luggage from the car to your camping spot.
For Food and Drink: All food and beverage stands at the main festival are staffed by local associations. In the Napoleon Grill Area, you can even put your own meat on the hot coals to grill.
πΆ Conclusion: Why You Have to Go!
Woodstock of Brass Music is more than just a series of concerts. It’s a huge, joyful family gathering for everyone who has brass in their blood. It’s the place where traditional brass music meets modern experimental spirit and creates something completely new and incredibly energetic.
Whether you choose the classic festival summer in Upper Austria, the winter fun in Tyrol, or one of the many other trips β you’ll head home with a smile on your face and countless melodies in your ear.
So, what are you waiting for? Choose your event, mark the dates boldly in your calendar and become part of the Woodstock family!
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