DAY 1 | THURSDAY JAN 22 _ THE GRAND OPENING

THU | 18:00–21:00 | Welcome Ice Stock Shooting (Kongressplatz)

We kick off the festival with a light, playful activity to loosen up: for the first time, a temporary LHF ice-stock lane at the heart of Bad Gastein’s Kongressplatz, perfectly suited to the winter setting. No registration required – compete in small teams while enjoying music and warm punch before the location-hopping rally begins.

 

THU & FRI | 18:00–24:00 | Festival Hub Cocktail Opening with Special Guest DAVE

After three years, we are thrilled to bring the legendary Hotel Weissmayr (formerly Selina, now eighteen86 by keyone) back as our festival hub. Overnight guests are right in the center of the action – the hotel is already 90% booked (vouchers available via our website). One of the town’s most beautiful Belle-Époque rooms becomes a Meet-&-Greet cocktail bar (Thu & Fri, 18:00–24:00), where you can also pick up your tickets on arrival. Our opening special guest is David Scheid aka DAVE (known from FM4 & Willkommen Österreich), delivering a signature DJ set full of surprises and playful gimmicks.

 

THU & FRI | 18:00–24:00 | Art Exhibition “EXIT”

New York–based German artist Florian Reinhardt brings his EXIT Photo Series to Bad Gastein, transforming the festival hub cocktail lounge (keyone) into a space of light, reflection, and release – for anyone ready to find their personal EXIT.

 

THU & FRI | from 19:00 | Seated Dinner by MOCHI x XO Grill x Gut Oggau x Lemon Sour

Culinary highlights return with a new addition: the two-day pop-up dinner CLUB ROYALE AU MONT GASTEIN – a playful, elegant tribute to alpine glamour. Menu by MOCHI and XO Grill, hosted by POPCHOP, paired with wines from Gut Oggau (Gault&Millau Future Award 2026). Special: the dinner also celebrates the European premiere of the Japanese cult drink LEMON SOUR レモンサワー, produced in Europe for the first time by Vienna-based startup IPPAI. Tickets include a 5-course best-of menu, aperitif, water, and wine pairing. Dinner takes place in the festival hub (Panorama Room / Hotel keyone). More info and remaining tickets are available via our Instagram Linktree.

 

THU–SAT | 22:00–04:00 | Grand de l’Europe Underground Floor by STOLI

The Grand Hotel de l’Europe, Bad Gastein’s Belle-Époque landmark and inspiration for Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, hosts an intimate three-day house club in its atmospheric basement, featuring groovy sounds and a baroque Stoli Highball bar.