A family enjoys a meal at a wooden table outside their cabin, soaking in the charm of Alpine summer events. — Tauernkarleitenalm (c) matthias-fritzenwallner

Alpine Summer Opening and Events

Overview on Alpine summer highlights

As soon as the cattle, horses, sheep and goats happily inhabit their lush green summer quarters after having been driven up to Salzburg’s alpine pastures for mountain grazing, numerous celebrations throughout the country mark the official start of “Alpine Summer”.

Look forward to the official opening of the alpine summer on the Tauernkarleitenalm on June 14, 2026!

Every year a different region in SalzburgerLand has the honour of hosting a lavish Alpine Summer opening event. The event is a fun get-together of musicians and hikers who can enjoy regional cuisine and typical mountain hut delicacies, watch traditional craftsmen at work or partake in lively alpine dancing. The ringing of the large alpine summer bell echoes across rolling mountain pastures and meadows, officially announcing the new alpine summer season.

Sunday, 14 June 2026 from 9:00 a.m. at the
Tauernkarleitenalm in the Radstädter Tauern mountains

Join us for the festive opening of the Salzburger Almsommer on 14 June at the idyllic Tauernkarleitenalm, surrounded by the breathtaking mountain scenery of the Radstädter Tauern.

This special celebration marks the beginning of a summer filled with alpine traditions, culinary delights and unforgettable experiences. At the same time, a very special anniversary takes centre stage: 20 years of the Salzburger Almenweg. Located directly on stage 18 of the popular long-distance hiking trail, the Tauernkarleitenalm provides the perfect setting for this memorable occasion.

Programm

Together, the guests of honour will hike along stage 18 of the Salzburger Almenweg from Zauchensee to the Tauernkarleitenalm. Biologist Nini Orda will share fascinating insights into the alpine flora and natural surroundings of the trail.
A special stop will take place at the Stubhöhe, where the anniversary bench marking 20 years of the Salzburger Almenweg will be officially inaugurated, accompanied by traditional alphorn music set against the impressive scenery of the Radstädter Tauern mountains.
From around 11:00 a.m., the official opening ceremony of the Salzburger Almsommer begins at the Tauernkarleitenalm, featuring ceremonial speeches, the traditional ringing of the Almsommer bells and the tapping of the first keg of Stiegl beer.
Andreas and Maria Haym, together with alpine herdsman Michael Haym, will offer insights into life on the alpine pasture and the traditions that continue to be lived and celebrated there, inviting guests to experience genuine Salzburg hospitality first-hand.
Afterwards, visitors can enjoy a relaxed get-together with regional culinary specialities, traditional craft demonstrations, a children’s programme with activity stations hosted by the Salzburg Mountain Guides, and live musical entertainment. Alpine cuisine will take centre stage, with a strong focus on regional products and quality.
The “Stadtler Musikanten” will provide the musical entertainment at the Tauernkarleitenalm.Come along and celebrate the start of the Salzburger Almsommer and 20 years of the Salzburger Almenweg with us!

Come along and celebrate the start of the Salzburger Almsommer and 20 years of the Salzburger Almenweg with us!

Last Years Kicking off Almsommer at the Lärchenhütte on Zwölferhorn (c) SLTG, Franz Neumayr

Alpine enjoyment and music: from the Mozarteum to the Lärchenhütte

At nine o’clock in the morning, they had already hiked together from Tiefbrunnau in the Fuschlsee region via Kühleiten up to the Lärchenhütte, which sits enthroned on a sunny plateau on the Zwölferhorn high above the picturesque Wolfgangsee. Once there, the focus was on handmade specialities, refreshing drinks, including iced tea from Teekanne and the Almsommer beer from Stiegl and, of course, lots of music: a little different than usual and yet wonderfully suited to the ambience from the quintet Alauda and very traditional from the Hinterberger Soatnmusi. The five Mozarteum students chose the melodious name Alauda for their quintet after a species of lark – which made their performance at the Lärchenhütte on the Zwölferhorn even more harmonious.

Alpine cuisine, shaped by the changing tides of time, took center stage, with an emphasis on regionality and quality. Visitors had the chance to sample a variety of local specialties, including sheep’s milk products from Seegut Eisl, game meats from Florian Kroissl of Oberwang, fresh bread and pastries from the Frauenlob bakery in Fuschl am See, schnapps from the Primushäusl distillery in Abersee, and many other regional delicacies.

The Hinterberger Soatnmusi provided the atmosphere and of course the authentic Alpine culinary delights- both presented with a blend of tradition and modernity. More Almsommer events and traditional crafts

More Almsommer events and traditional crafts

Crafted Treasures: The Butter Mould

When the cows, horses, sheep, and goats move up to their lush summer pastures in the Salzburg Alps following a successful alpine drive, it marks the official start of the alpine summer. Alongside the main opening ceremony, numerous other celebrations take place throughout SalzburgerLand to welcome the season.

In addition to celebrations marking the start of Alpine Summer, many events are held in the mountains in all regions during the summer months that feature enchanting walks between mountain huts, the sound of music, cultural readings, creative workshops, culinary delights and most of all, sociable exchanges at rustic mountain hut tables. Traditional skills are demonstrated throughout many alpine summer events including building a Pinzgauer-fence, fine wool spinning or carving butter moulds.

Ornately crafted and frequently passed down over generations, butter moulds are used as part of the butter making process. The intricately carved design at the base of the mould reveals the alpine butter’s origin to the knowing eye. A multitude of patterns end up adorning the butter, such as florals with edelweiss or gentian, religious symbols, chamois, deer or the hill farm’s name. Not many farmers still master the craft of butter mould carving any more, but one can observe this old traditional stone pine wood carving at Alpine Summer in Salzburg events.

Pinzgau: 20 Juni 2026

Stallion Drive in Rauris

In June the magnificent stallion drive in Rauris Valley is a particularly impressive spectacle which has been taking place for decades. The precious Noriker stallions initially have to establish their rank and determine who will be lead stallion to ensure a peaceful summer in the mountains. Only afterwards can they join the mares to spend 100 days of summer grazing in the lush meadows of Rauris Valley. The traditional Noriker stallion drive in Rauris Valley takes place at Alpengasthof Bodenhaus every year during the last weekend in June. This legendary performance in front of 5000 spectators is an important prerequisite to ensure a relaxing alpine summer for the horses without subsequent fights. The hierarchy of the stallions for each group is determined after about one hour of wild demonstrations of power, kicks and bites, and once the lead stallion has become ‘boss’, the others subordinate themselves peacefully and the mighty animals can unwind.

Two ponies rear up and playfully spar in a grassy enclosure at lively Alpine summer events.

Stallion drive in Rauris

Pongau: July to August 2026

Classical Music in Bad Hofgastein

In Gastein, as part of ALM:KLASSIK, the alpine pastures are transformed into concert halls set against a spectacular mountain backdrop. The programme features concerts by the Philharmonie Salzburg, accompanied by traditional folk music groups.

Pinzgau: 10 Juli to 4 September 2026

Alm:Kultur in Saalfelden Leogang

Tradition trifft Moderne – Unter diesem Motto werden im Rahmen des Salzburger Almsommers von Juli bis September Kunst- und Kulturprojekte auf den umliegenden Almen in der Region Saalfelden Leogang veranstaltet. Von Konzerten bis hin zu kreativen Workshops werden die Almen zu Kultur-Hotspots zwischen Brauchtum und Zukunftsmusik. ALM:KULTUR findet wöchentlich Freitags bei Schönwetter statt. Dadurch wird ein an sich schon schöner Wandertag zum einmaligen Erlebnis.

Tennengau: 4 to 6 September 2026

HeuART Festival in the Lammertal

At the Lammertal HeuART Festival, art made from hay is presented alongside a colourful supporting programme. The highlight of the festival takes place on Sunday with the traditional parade of hay figures through the village. During the HeuART Corso, intricately crafted hay sculptures—created over many weeks of detailed work—are showcased to visitors. The core ideas of the festival are authenticity, nature, regional identity, and the unique art of hay sculpture, which form the heart of HeuART.

Mountains in Flames – Summer Solstice Bonfires

Every year, at the summer solstice, people in Austria light traditional bonfires to drive away evil spirits, following an old custom. In SalzburgerLand, visitors have the opportunity at various mountain locations at the end of June to admire the peaks illuminated by flames as night falls.

A rocky mountain at dusk with a trail of glowing lights, reminiscent of Alpine summer events.

summer solstice bonfire – Video thumbnail for youtube video y2f826hhtoa

The most beautiful Alpine summer festivals, including the opening event and many other occasions at the approximately 165 certified Alpine summer huts, can be found in the free Alpine Summer brochure and in our Alpine Summer events calendar.