Vienna Opera Ball

The Vienna Opera Ball (Wiener Opernball in German) is an annual Austrian society event which takes place in the building of the Vienna State Opera on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday. Together with the New Year's Concert, the Opera Ball is one of the highlights of the Viennese carnival season.

Each year, almost over night, the auditorium of the Vienna State Opera is turned into a large ballroom. On the eve of the event, the rows of seats are removed from the stalls, and a new floor level with that of the stage is built.