At the shrill Aids charity event on 25 May, a roaring party will be celebrated under the banner of solidarity and tolerance. Designer Roberto Cavalli is designing the public fashion show on City Hall Square this year. Bill Clinton, Elton John, Hilary Swank, Eva Longoria, Fergie, Melanie Griffith, Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and lots of others will com to Vienna. The evening before the Life Ball, a benefit concert with a great line-up of stars will be held in the Burgtheater.

Under the responsibility of artistic director Luc Bondy with theater director Stefanie Carp and musical director Stéphane Lissner, the Vienna Festival from 10 May to 16 June 2013 presents an extensive program of 41 productions from 36 countries.

To mark the 65th birthday of Gottfried Helnwein, the Albertina is dedicating its biggest retrospective in the German-speaking region to him.