The classic Viennese ball has a proud tradition stretching back over four centuries, and has even taken the first steps towards inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The full spectacle extends from the opening ceremony featuring a debutant's committee to midnight stage shows with dance and music performances. There is also traditional ball etiquette to consider - from the "Damenspenden", a gift presented to the ladies, to the requisite gown, tuxedo or formal traditional Austrian dress, Austrian culture runs through every aspect of the Viennese Ball.
| Ball | Location | When | Noteworthyness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiserball | Hofburg Palace | New Year's Eve | New Year's Eve ball, international, www.kaiserball.com |
| Zuckerbaeckerball | Hofburg Palace | January | the sweetest ball www.zuckerbaeckerball.com |
| Ball der Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien | Hofburg Palace | January | www.wuball.at |
| Steirerball | Hofburg Palace | January | www.steirerball.com |
| Ball der Offiziere | Hofburg Palace | January | www.ballderoffiziere.at |
| Ball der Pharmacie | Hofburg Palace | January | www.pharmacieball.at |
| TU Ball | Hofburg Palace | January | www.tu-ball.at |
| Ball des Wiener Korporationsringes | Hofburg Palace | last Friday in January | www.wkr-ball.at |
| Wiener Aerzteball | Hofburg Palace | last Saturday in January | www.aerzteball.at |
| Jägerball | Hofburg Palace | last Monday in January | traditional costume mandatory, www.verein-grueneskreuz.at |
| Blumenball | Rathaus, Vienna | Mid-January | |
| BOKU-Ball | Hofburg Palace | February | www.bokuball.at |
| IAEA-Ball | Hofburg Palace | February | www.stylearts.eu/iaea |
| Hofburg-Ball der Wiener Wirtschaft | Hofburg Palace | February | www.hofburg-ball.at |
| Philharmonikerball | Musikverein | given by the musicians of the Vienna Philaharmonic | |
| Techniker-Cercle | Musikverein | engineers, technicians | |
| Immobilienball | Hofburg Palace | February | www.immobilienball.at |
| Kaffeesiederball | Hofburg Palace | February | www.kaffeesiederball.at |
| Regenbogenball | Hofburg Palace | February | www.regenbogenball.at |
| Vienna International Spring Ball | Hofburg Palace | March | http://www.springball.at |
| Vienna Opera Ball | Vienna State Opera | Fat Thursday | government figures, international celebrities, debutants, wide televised coverage |
| St. Johanns-Club Ball | Palais Schwarzenberg | late Spring | St. Johanns Club/Jockey Club members, SMOM, historical nobility |
| Juristenball | Hofburg Palace | lawyers, judges, law students, www.juristenball.at | |
| Rudolfina Redoute | Hofburg Palace | Shrove Monday | ladies must wear masks, http://redoute.rudolfina.at |
| Elmayer-Kränzchen | Hofburg Palace | Shrove Tuesday | www.elmayer.at |
Another important location of Balls is the Rathaus.
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“If the head is lost, all that perishes is the individual; if the balls are lost, all of human nature perishes.”
—François Rabelais (1494–1553)
“All the terrors of the French Republic, which held Austria in awe, were unable to command her diplomacy. But Napoleon sent to Vienna M. de Narbonne, one of the old noblesse, with the morals, manners, and name of that interest, saying, that it was indispensable to send to the old aristocracy of Europe men of the same connection, which, in fact, constitutes a sort of free- masonry. M. de Narbonne, in less than a fortnight, penetrated all the secrets of the imperial cabinet.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)