The 125th Styrian Ball was a complete success: thousands of visitors in traditional costumes who celebrated until late into the night, plus “the Stoanis” at the ceremonial entry, the Boney M. show at midnight, the lively midnight polonaise, lively Schuhplattler girls, East Styrian wines as well as culinary delicacies and lots of celebrities in the Vienna Hofburg.
Around 3,500 ball guests in smart dirndls and traditional suits, some also in evening gowns and suits, attended the 125th Styrian Ball yesterday, Friday evening in the festively decorated Vienna Hofburg. We danced, celebrated and networked until the early hours of the morning.
Andreas Zakostelskychairman of the Styrian Association in Vienna and ball organizer: “This year’s Styrian Ball was an extraordinary event for us as a club. It was now the 125th Styrian Ball – a very special anniversary for us as the Styrian Club in Vienna. Happy, elegant and with the typical Styrian joy of life, we spent a wonderful ball night right in the heart of the federal capital with our guests, friends of Styria and more than 300 actors.”
East Styrian warmth attracts guests
The Steirerball 2025 was dedicated to the host region of Eastern Styria, which was represented by the Eastern Styria Tourism Association and is a symbol of the incredibly diverse garden landscapes of Eastern Styria. Already in front of the Hofburg, the ball guests were presented with a piece of tradition from the most wooded area in eastern Austria: a wood carver used his chainsaw to create a work of art from a log.
Opening with Stoakoglers and the new Styrian governor
The ceremonial entry of the club’s board of directors, the guests of honor, the dance groups and flag officers from the federal states was organized by the Sound Association Vienna accompanied. This was followed by the arrival of the host region with the mystical apple men from Puch near Weiz. A special highlight right at the beginning of the ball program: After a 14-year break, the legendary “Stoa balls“ from Gasen in Eastern Styria at the Steirerball opening together with almost 30 harmonica players from the Stoani Haus der Musik and the “Edlseern“ in the ballroom of the Vienna Hofburg. At the opening, the Young Women’s and Young Men’s Committee danced a polonaise under the direction of dance teacher Claudia Eichler, which was accompanied by the Edlseers. After the welcome by club chairman Andreas Zakostelsky, he also welcomed Oliver Felber as chairman of the Eastern Styria adventure region, the new Styrian governor Mario Kunasek and Vice Chancellor Federal Minister Werner Kogler as guests at the Styrian Ball. The program continued with the Dachstein song, interpreted by the Fischbach Music Association. The moderator duo Oliver Zeisberger and Lukas Schweighofer hosted the ball evening.
The Styrian governor Mario Kunasek thanked “on behalf of all the Styrians who had traveled, the Styrian Association in Vienna and the actors from this year’s partner region Eastern Styria for the exemplary organization of this unique ball. They make a significant contribution to ensuring that Styrian values and lifestyles enrich the federal capital. With today’s culinary offering, Styria is once again leaving behind a calling card as an Austrian gourmet region.”
On behalf of the Styrian Association in Vienna, Zakostelsky thanked the new governor, but also the former governor for the good cooperation and, above all, this year’s host region Stefan Schindlerthe managing director of the Eastern Styria Tourism Association.
Musical delicacies
Around 300 musicians were hired for the cheerful Styrian Ball – among other things “The Edlseers” and the “Koglhofer Schuhmädls”. Fritz Kristoferitschhead of the “Edlseer” and “old hand” at the Steirerball: “It was a great honor for us to be able to be there at the opening of the Steirerball with ‘A Musikant im Trachtengwand’ and the ‘Dancing Star’. Because these popular numbers represent everything that Styria is – customs, down-to-earthness, celebrating festivals and laughing together.” Alexandra Putz of the “Koglhofer Plattermädls”who performed choreographies specially rehearsed for the Steirerball at midnight: “It was great that we performed at the Steirerball this year.”
Once again they provided the tried and tested mix of Styrian cheerfulness and classic Viennese elegance Sound Association Viennathe Graz City Orchestradie Big Band Bad Gleichenbergthe Beat Club Grazthe Streetview Dixie Club, Beppo‘s Dance Band as well as the Coverband EGON7 and Deejay Chiquita in the ball disco.
In the festively decorated halls and corridors of the Hofburg, the ball guests were also able to enjoy a fine selection of regional folk music groups, such as the “Koglkrainer“die “Windhaber House Music”the “Quartet of the Rabenwald mountain band”die “Pop music”die Teiflestoana as well as the “Stranleger Stubenmusi”. Dance-loving guests came to the Metternich Hall for the open folk dancing with a dance leader Hans-Jürgen Schröttner and the “Schülcherleitn Music“Fully at their expense.
Boney M. from midnight
The audience waited until midnight for the powerful vocal members of the Boney M. Loved the show, one of the many highlights of the ball evening – and was then transported to the 1970s: There was a disco feeling in the ballroom and most of the ball guests indulged in the cult hits “Daddy Cool”, “Rivers of Babylon” and “Rasputin”: In the ballroom almost all the guests sang and danced along . After that, many did Styrian ball guests take part in the lively bat quadrille.
Culinary highlight of the Vienna ball season
Eastern Styrian delicacies ensured the maximum Styrian feeling in the Vienna Hofburg this year. Eastern Styrian delights awaited the ball guests both at the legendary sausage stand in the foyer and at the classic ball delicacies plate: finely smoked Mulbratl and sheep’s cheese were served, among other things. The replica Styrian Wine Route, the Styrian Buschenschank and the Gösser Bar were also fixed parts of the ball. Classics of the Steirerball in 2025 were once again the beer tapping and the delicious Steirerkraft pumpkin seed oil egg dish for culinary refreshment after midnight.
Politics at the Styrian Ball
Among the guests of the Styrian Association in Vienna were numerous personalities from politics and business: above all the Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, Leonore GewesslerFederal Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology and Martin PolaschekFederal Minister for Education, Science and Research. It was the first time at the Steirerball Lindsey SchollAmbassador of the United Kingdom in Vienna.
In addition to the Styrian governor, there was also the President of the Styrian state parliament Christopher Drexler as well as the state councils Claudia Holzer, Hannes Amesbauer, Stefan Hermann and Karlheinz Kornhäusl at the Steirerball in Vienna.
Also spotted at Steirerball Joseph Taucherchairman of the SPÖ club in Vienna, who took part in the atmospheric Styrian ball on behalf of Mayor Michael Ludwig.
In addition to the SPÖ National Council Josef “Beppo” Muchitschwho played with his band “Beppo’s Dance Band” in the Knights’ Hall, numerous other Styrian MPs from all parliamentary groups were also there at the cheerful Styrian Ball 2025. Also Gerhard Kochdirector of ORF Steiermark, once again created a great atmosphere in the Metternichsaal with his band “Beat Club Graz”.
Economy at the Steirerball
The Steirerball 2025 was once again a good place for networking.
They took advantage of this opportunity Robert HolzmanGovernor of the Austrian National Bank and Josef Meichenitschnewly appointed director of the OeNB and GRAWE general director Klaus Scheitegelhis deputy Gernot Reiter as well as the board directors George Schneider and Erik Venningdorf. Also among the guests were George Bucherdesignated CEO of Steiermärkische Sparkasse, Hartwig LögerGeneral Director of the Vienna Insurance Group and Sonja BrandtmayerDeputy General Director of Wiener Städtische Versicherung. To the Styrian federal state ball The AMS board also came John headAPG board Gerhard Christiner and Achim Kasparmember of the board of VERBUND AG as well as Peter Umundum, Deputy General Director of the Austrian Post AG. The RLB Steiermark boss was also spotted at the ball Martin Schaller, the GKB managing directors Gerald Klug and Barbara Kleinert and Martin Graf as well as Christian Purrerboard members Energie Steiermark AG, as well as Werner Ressi Managing Director of Energie Graz and designated new board member of Energie Steiermark AG as well Peter MoserRector of the Montanuniversität Leoben.
TOP business representatives met high-ranking representatives of interest groups in the Hofburg: for example Josef Herk, President of the Styrian Chamber of Commerce and his deputy Andrea’s heart, but also on Franz Titschenbacherthe President of the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture. The opportunity to network at the Steirerball was also useful Herwig Hallinger and Marianna Kühnel from the General Secretariat of the Austrian Economic Chamber and Secretary General of the Economic Association Kurt Egger and Peter KorenVice Secretary General of the Federation of Industrialists.
Oststeiermark
From this year’s host region, Eastern Styria, which has incredibly diverse garden landscapes around the Wechselland herb region, the Joglland-Waldheimat region, the Hartbergerland, the Apfelland-Stubenbergsee, the Almenland and Pöllauer Tal nature parks as well as Weiz, St. Ruprecht an der Raab and Gleisdorf were present at the Steirerball, among others: Silvia Karelly Member of the state parliament and mayor from Fischbach, Luke Schnitzer Member of the state parliament and Hartberg deputy mayor as well Gerlinde Schneidermayor of Puch near Weiz.
Culture and media scene at the Steirerball
Birgit and Heinz Reitbauerthe operators of the Steirereck restaurant, one of the best restaurants in the world, were also at the Steirerball this year, as was the fashion designer Lena Hoschek. On the Kronen Zeitung side he was editor-in-chief Klaus Herrmann at the Styrian Ball of Balls in Vienna as well while like Michael TillianManaging Director of the Mediaprint and Krone Group and Wolfgang Schallereditor-in-chief of the ORF regional studio Styria. Also spotted among the ball guests were: ZIB presenter Nadja Bernhard and Rainer Nowak“Krone” department head for economics and politics.
This year, the proceeds from the Steirerball raffle will benefit the Styrian Cancer Aid.
Photo material can be downloaded at: https://we.tl/t-4RrgLogSJN
Photo rights: Association of Styrians in Vienna/Ludwig Schedl