Debut
In order to be accepted into the Young Ladies' and Young Gentlemen's Committee, a number of requirements must be met:
- You have a very good knowledge of the left-hand waltz,
- You are at least 18 and no more than 25 (young ladies) or 29 (young gentlemen) years old on the day of the Opera Ball (February 12, 2026)
- You have not yet opened the Vienna Opera Ball - the opening is only possible once.
Thank you for your interest. The application period ends on September 17, 2025. We ask for your understanding that we will not be able to accept any more applications after this date.
Audition
Dancing couples from Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland (as well as Linz & Wels) were invited to audition on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the Vienna State Opera after reviewing all applications.
Applicants from the other federal states and abroad are free to travel to the audition or alternatively send in a video showing their left-hand waltz skills. Here too, an invitation will be sent out after the application deadline with further details of what this video should look like.
All applicants will be informed by e-mail by the end of December 2025 at the latest whether they will be included in the opening committee of the Vienna Opera Ball 2026.
We ask for your understanding that we reserve the right to exclude couples who do not meet the necessary dance requirements from the opening committee during rehearsals despite prior confirmation.
An application as a member of the Young Ladies' and Young Gentlemen's Committee is free of charge.
Once accepted, participation in the Vienna Opera Ball 2026 as a debutant costs €140.
With the confirmation email, debutants will receive all information regarding rehearsal dates and the collection of committee tickets.
In the preparation phase, the following rehearsals will take place on the weekends before the ball
- 3 rehearsals in Vienna for couples from Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, as well as Linz and Wels (January 25, 31, February 1, 2026)
- 1 rehearsal in Vienna for couples from the other federal states (not from Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland) and for international couples (February 7, 2026)
Additionally for all couples
- 2 main rehearsals in the Gustav Mahler Hall of the Vienna State Opera (February 07 & 08, 2026)
- Dress rehearsal on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 (in the ballroom of the Vienna State Opera)
In order to be allowed to debut at the Vienna State Opera Opera Ball, participation in all assigned rehearsals is mandatory.
Clothing for the rehearsals
Ladies' position: black skirt, white blouse, skin-colored stockings, shoes without rubber soles
Men's position: black suit, white shirt, dark tie, shoes without rubber soles
Ladies' outfit/wardrobe
- pure white, floor-length ball gown (without hoop skirt, without glitter as an appliqué, worked into the fabric or anything else, no traditional costume)
- pure white gloves up to the elbow
- pure white shoes, closed-toe
- Jewelry only discreet and inconspicuous (necklaces only very thin, no wristwatch, no badges, medals or pins)
- obligatory: pinned-up ball hairstyle, in which the tiara is securely incorporated.
Gentlemen's outfit/wardrobe
- black tailcoat
- white vest
- white jacket
- white gloves
- black patent leather shoes with black shoe laces
- black socks
- no badges, medals or pins, no wristwatch (pocket watch permitted)
- no loose, long hair
- white handkerchief
Both men's and women's outfit/wardrobe
- no conspicuous hair colors
- no hair jewelry (except for the tiara for ladies)
- no prominent piercings (especially tunnels) and conspicuous tattoos
- no headgear