I should perhaps start this off with a hearty piratical “Arrrrrr!” or some other rum-soaked cliché. But I won’t. Anyway, if you like a drop of rum of an evening, consider the Vienna Rumfestival.
- Strong on cocktails
- Food & music feature
- Tequila and mezcal area, too
- 2026 dates: Sept 18-19
- Book a city tour experience* for your Vienna stay
- See also:
- Events in Vienna
- Cocktail festival
- September in Vienna
What is the festival about?
(Inside the rum festival: press photo © Rainer Mirau)
The big Vienna Rumfestival offers visitors the chance to discover different types of rum from dozens of brands.
Aficionados will no doubt grimace at my earlier pirate comment. After all, rum has escaped its historical naval milieu to become a drink of the world, albeit resonant with Caribbean flair and history.
Obviously, you have the chance to sample and/or buy the drink that led Lord Byron to write:
There’s nought, no doubt, so much the spirit calms
As rum and true religion: thus it was
Various specialist tastings usually take place at what is apparently the largest festival of its kind in Europe, along with a range of related entertainments such as live music, tours with a rum connoisseur, a food & bar area, and a separate area dedicated to tequila and mezcal.
A strong cocktail theme runs through the event, of course. In 2026, this includes a signature rum cocktail bar.
2026 dates, tickets & tips
Dates for the 2026 festival are September 18th and 19th. You can normally buy tickets online from the official website.
In 2026, the Ginmarkt gin festival takes place across the same dates at the same location.
How to get to the festival
The event takes place on the premises of Vienna’s main brewery Ottakringer, whose old industrial buildings contribute to a unique ambience
This site has a growing reputation as an event location: it hosts a long summer beer festival, for example, as well as the Vinyl & Music festival. Check my article on the brewery for travel tips.
Address: Ottakringer Platz 1, 1160 Vienna