The Vienna Boys Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben) has been part of Vienna’s musical life for more than 500 years. Whether you hear the boys singing during Sunday Mass in the Hofburg Chapel or at one of their concerts at MuTh, it’s one of those experiences that gives you a real sense of the city’s rich musical heritage.
Most visitors have heard of the choir, but not everyone realises how easy it is to hear them perform. In this guide, I’ll show you where to see the Vienna Boys Choir, how to book tickets, what to expect and which performances I’d recommend if you’re visiting Vienna for the first time.
1. Sunday Mass At The Hofburg Chapel
One of the most atmospheric ways to hear the Vienna Boys Choir is during Sunday Mass at the Imperial Court Chapel (Hofburgkapelle). The choir sings on most Sundays from mid-September until the end of June, as well as on Christmas Day.
Mass begins at 9.15 am, and tickets are in high demand, so it’s well worth booking ahead.
Few people know that members of the Vienna State Opera men’s choir and members of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, most of which are also members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, power the Hofmusikkapelle. To round up the experience, the traditional location also boasts excellent acoustics.
Location: Wiener Hofburgkapelle, Hofburg-Schweizerhof, A-1010 Vienna
Tickets: EUR 62;
Bookings: You can book online without having to queue. Tickets can be delivered directly to your hotel. Alternatively, tickets can be bought on-site on Fridays between 11 am and 1 pm, and between 3 pm and 5 pm, or before Sunday Mass from 8.15 am to 8.45 am.
Note: As usual with masses, you will only hear the choir as they will be up on the choir balcony. After the mass, you will see the boys when they perform a few songs at the altar.
2. Concerts At MuTh
If you’d rather hear the choir in a concert setting, head to MuTh, the Wiener Sängerknaben’s home concert hall beside Augarten. Friday afternoon concerts run throughout the season, with programmes ranging from sacred music and classical favourites to folk songs from around the world. Just next to the choir boys’ boarding school at baroque Augarten palace the Vienna Boys Choirs have their own concert hall.
Not only does the MuTh serve as the boys’ main place to rehearse, and perform (mostly classical) concerts, and their own children’s operas.
On a few selected dates the Vienna Boys Choir perform at different events. For example, in January they stage their own Concert In the New Year. Among the highlights are Mozart’s Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music), Schubert’s Erlkönig (The Erlking), Schumann’s Zigeunerleben (The Gypsy Life). And like at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s world famous New Year’s expect lots of Strauss Music: the Emperor Waltz, the Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, and Dorfschwalben aus Österreich (Village Swallows from Austria).
Schedule: most Friday afternoons; 5th and 6th December 2026, 21st December 2026
Location: MuTh concert hall, Am Augartenspitz 1, 1020 Vienna;
Tickets: from EUR 34;
Bookings: get tickets
3. Christmas In Vienna Gala
Each year, the Wiener Sängerknaben lend their angelical voices to one of the most renowned Christmas concerts in the world. In the Art Nouveau Grand Hall of Wiener Konzerthaus, the traditional Christmas in Vienna Gala excels with a mix of classical seasonal songs and popular Christmas music. While top opera singers usually support the Vienna Boys Choir’s Christmas songs you can expect other great artists to join at the evening.
To enable a wider audience to experience this exceptional concert a pre-premiere concert takes place the day before the grand gala, performing the same pieces.
Schedule ‘Christmas In Vienna’: 16th December 2026 (pre-premiere), 17th December 2026 (Gala)
Location: Wiener Konzerthaus, Lothringer Strasse, 1030 Vienna;
Tickets: EUR 118 to EUR 243 (pre-premiere); EUR 156 to EUR 243
Bookings: secure tickets
4. Concerts at Theater Im Park
Under the name ‘Made in Austria’ the choir boys will present various popular sommer songs beneath the mighty plane trees of the private gardens of the Princes of Schwarzenberg’s palace. As part of the open air event series Theater Im Park, the programme introduces the local public to the Wiener Sängerknaben’s non-classical range.
Schedule: 13th September 2026, 3.00 pm
Location: Theater Im Park, 1030 Vienna;
Tickets: from EUR 29,90
Bookings: buy tickets
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Vienna Boys Choir worth seeing?
I’d say yes, especially if you’re curious about Vienna’s musical heritage. Even if you’re not a regular concert-goer, hearing the choir live is quite different from listening to a recording. The combination of young voices, historic surroundings and centuries of tradition makes it a distinctive Viennese experience.
How early should I book tickets?
As early as you can, particularly if you’re hoping to attend a Sunday Mass or are visiting during Advent or Christmas. These performances often sell out well in advance, whereas Friday concerts at MuTh usually offer a little more flexibility.
What should I wear?
There’s no formal dress code for concerts, so smart casual is perfectly fine. If you’re attending Sunday Mass at the Hofburg Chapel, it’s worth dressing respectfully, as you’re attending a church service rather than simply a concert.
Is the Vienna Boys Choir suitable for children?
Yes, especially for children who enjoy music. Just bear in mind that performances are fairly traditional, so younger children will need to be comfortable sitting quietly for around an hour.
How did the Vienna Boys Choir start?
More than 500 years ago, in 1498, the Choir started as a group of six boys of Emperor Maximilian I’s court band. After the First World War and the abolition of the monarchy in Austria, the choir turned into a private association. Since then, the approximately 100 boys between 10 and 14 years of age dress in sailor suits, sing in four different choir groups at various public occasions and tour the world. The Vienna Boys Choir became international superstars not least since Walt Disney’s film Almost Angels (1962).
What does the Vienna Boys Choir sing?
The Vienna Boys Choir’s repertoire ranges from Medieval music, to Renaissance (Gallus, Victoria, Monteverdi), to Baroque (Bach, Händel), Classical (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven), and Romantic music (Schubert, Bruckner); it also includes polka and waltzes by the Strauss dynasty. The boys have also lent their voices to modern music (Benjamin Britten, Leonard Bernstein, Gustav Mahler), folk, pop and world music. and regularly perform in operas for children.
visit Vienna Secret Classical Music Treat – Mozart Off-Path
find out more about Vienna New Year’s Concert Ticket Information
explore my full list of Vienna Concerts tips – Quality Music Events in My Hometown
go to Augarten – Porcelain Museum, Vienna Boys Choir And More
explore concerts at Stephansdom – St. Stephen’s Cathedral from Catacombs To Concerts
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