October 26 in Vienna: which museums let you in without a ticket
On October 26, several museums in Vienna let visitors in without a ticket. Austria's national holiday is one of the few days when the House of Austrian History and the Prunksaal open without an admission ticket (as of 09/2026, hdgö schedule and free days).
Tours run on a schedule, so it's best to plan your route through the city in advance.
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What's free in Vienna on October 26
💡 In short:
- The House of Austrian History, Prunksaal, Papyrus Museum, and AzW are free on October 26.
- MAK Day runs on a reduced ticket: 9.50 € at the door, 8.50 € online.
- The MAK Geymüllerschlössel branch is closed that day.
- Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official MAK website.
Museum | Admission October 26 | Hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
House of Austrian History (hdgö) | free | 10-18 | |
Prunksaal, Papyrus Museum | free | 10-18 | |
Architekturzentrum Wien (AzW) | free | 10-18 | |
MAK | 9.50 € | 10-18 |
Below are the venues that put together programs for the national holiday.
House of Austrian History: languages and a postcard workshop
The House of Austrian History (Haus der Geschichte Österreich, hdgö) occupies part of the Hofburg in the very center of Vienna. On October 26 you can enter without a ticket, and on Thursdays the museum is open until 8:00 PM with free admission after 6:00 PM (as of 09/2026, hdgö, opening hours).
© Miguel Mendez from Malahide, Ireland · CC BYPhoto: Miguel Mendez from Malahide, Ireland, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe program's centerpiece is a video installation about the country's languages. It features six recognized national groups, as well as the Bosnian and Yenish communities, which are seeking official recognition (according to the program for the National Day).
After that, you can take short tours of the exhibition "Neue Zeiten: Österreich seit 1918" and a postcard workshop. Here you draw your own personal Austrian postcard and take it home with you.
Austrian National Library: Prunksaal and small museums
The Austrian National Library opens several locations on October 26 (as of 09/2026, hdgö on the library's locations). In the Prunksaal you enter a baroque hall with frescoes, where tours of the changing exhibition take place, and children receive quest assignments.
© Alexander Annenkov from Moscow, Russia · CC BYPhoto: Alexander Annenkov from Moscow, Russia, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsAt the Literaturmuseum, short tours cover Austrian literature and the exhibition dedicated to Friederike Mayröcker. For children, there is a program called "Das ABC für Buchstabenkünstler" and a performance of "Die Grille und die Ameise" by Tip Tap Theater.
At the Papyrusmuseum, a children's workshop called "Mache dir die Welt, wie sie dir gefällt" lets kids build their own underwater world. At the Esperantomuseum, you can take a "Crashkurs Esperanto" and learn your first phrases in the language.
MAK Day: discounted ticket and family tours
The Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) is not free on this day, but tickets are cheaper than usual: €9.50 at the door or €8.50 online (as of 09/2026, MAK Day program). MAK Day 2026 runs from 10:00 to 18:00.
© Flocci Nivis · CC BY-SAPhoto: Flocci Nivis, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe program includes a tour called "Bühnen des Alltags" about staging everyday life and a tour called "Wien 1900" about the women designers of the Wiener Werkstätte. With children, head to the MINI MAK ArchitekTour at 15:00: participants build structures from old construction sets (as of 09/2026, MAK Day schedule).
The MAK Geymüllerschlössel branch is closed on October 26, so it's worth going on another day (according to MAK on the branch).
Architekturzentrum Wien: open house day
Architekturzentrum Wien (AzW) in the MuseumsQuartier invites you in free of charge from 10:00 to 18:00 (as of 09/2026, AzW: free admission). You can see the permanent exhibition "Hot Questions - Cold Storage" and the recent exhibition "Europas beste Bauten".
© Manuel Velazquez · CC BYPhoto: Manuel Velazquez, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsFor children, there is a Lego area where they can build an entire city from bricks. Adults are invited to join conversations about architecture with the museum team.
Museum of Military History and a concert at the Musikverein
The Museum of Military History (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, HGM) offers a tour called "Der lange Weg Österreichs" about the country's symbols and memory. In the evening, the Wiener Johann Strauss Orchester performs the "Konzert zum Nationalfeiertag" in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein.
© Andrzej Otrębski · CC BY-SAPhoto: Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsIf you want to end the day with music, check the concert start time on the Musikverein website.
Tours and tickets in Vienna
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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
Is admission to Vienna museums really free on October 26?
On October 26, the House of Austrian History, Prunksaal, Papyrusmuseum, and Architekturzentrum Wien offer free admission (as of 09/2026, official hdgö website). MAK has a reduced ticket at 9.50 €. The city's other museums follow their regular schedules, so check the official websites for hours.
How much does MAK Day 2026 cost?
A MAK Day ticket costs 9.50 € at the door or 8.50 € online (as of 09/2026, MAK: ticket prices). It is valid all day from 10:00 to 18:00. Tours run on a schedule, and the digital MAK Guide in the app remains free.
Where should I go with kids?
Several free programs are planned for children. The House of Austrian History hosts a postcard workshop, the Papyrusmuseum has an underwater world building activity, and AzW has a Lego city building session (as of 09/2026, hdgö children's programs). At MAK, families can join the MINI MAK ArchitekTour at 15:00.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Free museums do not require a ticket, you just walk up to the entrance. At MAK, online tickets are cheaper, so it is better to get one through the museum's website. The concert at the Musikverein and certain tours require tickets, so book those in advance.
In short: what to book
You can realistically fit a lot into this day: go to the House of Austrian History in the morning, see the Prunksaal and AzW in the afternoon, and listen to a concert at the Musikverein in the evening. If you have one free day, start with the free venues. If you are traveling with kids, go for the postcard workshop and the Lego zone. The MAK ticket is cheaper to buy online.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.