Winning awards has never been our primary objective, but receiving industry recognition is always a meaningful endorsement of our work. Since 2012, the Austrian Federal Government and the federal provinces have presented the Austrian Innovation Award for Tourism. In 2026, the award introduced a new category dedicated to congress tourism, honouring venues that "set new standards for the industry through professionalism, foresight and innovative thinking."
This commitment is embedded in everything we do. Seeing those efforts acknowledged makes this achievement particularly rewarding. Festspielhaus Bregenz has been awarded first place in the Congress Centres (1,000+ delegates) category, sharing the honour with the Austrian Center Vienna. Congratulations once again to our colleagues in Vienna.
Recognition for an Outstanding Team
Beyond the trophy itself, this award validates both our long-term strategy and the dedication of our entire team. For many years, Festspielhaus Bregenz has ranked among Europe's leading congress and event venues, having been named among the world's top three congress centres on five occasions. As a holder of the Austrian Ecolabel and an Ökoprofit-certified organisation in Vorarlberg, we are now also proud recipients of the Austrian Innovation Award for Tourism.
"We are absolutely thrilled to receive this distinction. It represents tremendous recognition for the commitment of our entire team, whose expertise, creativity and empathy ensure exceptional experiences for our clients throughout the year," said Festspielhaus Director Gerhard Stübe following the award ceremony held in Zell am See on 22 June 2026.
Why the Jury Chose Festspielhaus Bregenz
The judging panel described Festspielhaus Bregenz as an "active driving force within the international congress industry", highlighting our long-standing commitment to the research platform micelab:bodensee. More than a decade ago, we helped establish this collaborative research and professional development initiative together with Convention Partner Vorarlberg and leading congress venues from Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The partnership explores one central question: what creates truly meaningful encounters at events? The jury praised not only the cross-border collaboration between neighbouring venues around Lake Constance but also the commitment to openly sharing knowledge and best practice across the wider event planning and congress industry.
Sustainability in Action
Our environmental strategy also played a decisive role in the award. Since 2025, Festspielhaus Bregenz has heated and cooled the venue using water from Lake Constance, making it Austria's first event venue to implement lake-source thermal energy. Combined with heat pump technology and photovoltaic systems, this initiative has reduced CO₂ emissions by an impressive 82 per cent within just one year, underlining our commitment to sustainable and green events.
A Venue with Year-Round Activity
Working in close partnership with the Bregenz Festival gives Festspielhaus Bregenz a competitive advantage that was likewise recognised by the jury. Alongside the internationally renowned festival programme, a diverse calendar of congresses, conferences, cultural productions and corporate events ensures year-round occupancy and an exceptionally high level of commercial sustainability within the sector.
An equally significant benefit is the ability of both organisations to provide permanent employment for highly skilled professionals across technical production, event planning, carpentry, metal fabrication, stage design, costume production and numerous other specialist disciplines. Their expertise ensures that every event hosted at Festspielhaus Bregenz delivers memorable experiences and lasting impact for local audiences and international delegates alike.
Author, Manager Live Communication & Events
Ursula Kaufmann is a qualified Manager for Live Communication & Events with many years of experience in the MICE industry. Her passion lies in meaningful events that inspire, engage and enrich people.