Vienna might be known for its grand architecture, coffee houses, and classical music but beneath the historic surface, there’s a vibrant creative scene buzzing with designers, photographers, filmmakers, illustrators, and all kinds of new-generation thinkers.
Whether you're a designer, illustrator, filmmaker, or working in any creative field, this guide will help you find your people in the city. From casual meetups to vibrant community events,
Vienna
offers countless opportunities to connect, collaborate, and get inspired.
Creative Lunch Club is a global community for people working in the creative industries. Whether you are a graphic designer, a photographer, a marketer, or a filmmaker, the Creative Lunch Club gives you the chance to regularly meet other creatives in your city for lunch.
Creative Therapy Session is a monthly meetup in Vienna for creatives to connect, share inspiration, and enjoy an evening together. ✨ It takes place every first Thursday of the month and welcomes all creative minds.
Ladies, Wine & Design is a global community uplifting creative women and nonbinary folks with meetups, talks, and mentorship. Inclusive vibes, real talk, and chapters around the world.
Design Austria is Austria’s central hub for design and visual communication, supporting creatives with events, workshops, and initiatives that connect and inspire the local design community.
Illustration Ladies is an international community for female and non-binary illustrators, creating space for connection, support, and visibility through meetups, drawing sessions, and workshops. It’s a space to share ideas, grow creatively, and support each other in an often isolating industry.
CCA - Creative Club Austria is a leading platform for the Austrian creative industry, celebrating and promoting creative excellence through events, talks, and community gatherings.
CreativeMornings is a global series of free, monthly morning talks that bring creatives together for coffee, inspiration, and good vibes.
A community-driven hub in Vienna that supports collaboration among entrepreneurs and creatives through flexible workspaces and events.
Schraubenfabrik is one of Vienna’s first coworking spaces, housed in a former factory near the city center. It’s a vibrant community where creatives, freelancers, and small teams come together to work, share ideas, and collaborate in an inspiring atmosphere.
DACHSBAU is a dynamic creative hub located in the renovated Stadtbahn arch 335 along the Donaukanal in Vienna. On the ground floor you’ll find flexible studios of various sizes suited for visual artists, makers and small teams; above there is a co-working floor with shared desks, 24/7 access and communal facilities. The site offers a great blend of character, where industrial architecture meets creative energy.
Impact Hub Vienna is a community for impact-driven entrepreneurs, offering coworking, programs, and events that foster collaboration and social innovation.
WUK is a beloved Viennese cultural hub, a former factory turned vibrant space with studios, workshops, concerts, exhibitions and community events.
MuseumsQuartier Wien is a cultural district in Vienna combining museums, contemporary art spaces, performance venues, and cafés across historic and modern architecture. It hosts exhibitions, festivals, and lively public courtyards year-round.
A creative powerhouse in Vienna, Die Angewandte blends experimental art, design, and research, fueling a vibrant community of makers and thinkers.
The Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien is a creative hub in Vienna where fine arts, architecture, conservation, and cultural studies meet through studios, labs, and public exhibitions. It’s a lively spot for bold ideas and hands-on making that keeps the city’s art scene moving.
A cozy café-bar with a relaxed living-room vibe, serving coffee, drinks, and simple bites. A favorite spot for lingering conversations and casual meetups.
A design shop and studio run by local illustrators and designers, filled with handmade ceramics, prints, and stationery. A quiet favorite for Vienna’s creative crowd.
WestLicht is a go-to spot for photo lovers in Vienna, with rotating exhibitions, events, and a fascinating camera museum.
A concept store and creative lab celebrating analog experiences — think vinyl cutting, instant photography, and letterpress printing. A must-visit for artists and makers.
Burggasse 24 is a laid-back concept store in Vienna, combining a cozy café-bar with 500 m² of handpicked vintage fashion and designer pieces under one high-ceilinged roof.
Filmcasino is a classic Viennese cinema with a beautifully preserved 1950s interior, screening arthouse, indie and international films.
Carla Mittersteig is a spacious second hand store offering furniture, fashion and vintage finds. A relaxed place to browse quality items while supporting a social project.
The Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien is a creative hub in Vienna where fine arts, architecture, conservation, and cultural studies meet through studios, labs, and public exhibitions. It’s a lively spot for bold ideas and hands-on making that keeps the city’s art scene moving.
Bistro Fantasy is one of Vienna’s most exciting new bistros, located on Gumpendorfer Straße in the 6th district. The spot blends a raw, urban interior with a relaxed atmosphere and serves creative dishes from breakfast to dinner, alongside natural wines, cocktails, and excellent small plates. Known for its minimalist vibe and high-quality, ingredient-driven food, it has quickly become a popular meeting place for locals and creatives alike.
Bruder in Vienna’s 6th district is a supercool restaurant and bar known for creative dishes made with seasonal ingredients, house-made ferments, and bold flavors. Alongside the food, Bruder serves inventive cocktails and natural wines in a relaxed, design-driven setting.
MAST Weinbistro in Vienna’s 9th district is a modern wine bistro known for its carefully curated natural wine list and seasonal, ingredient-focused dishes. The minimalist space and relaxed atmosphere make it a popular spot for long dinners, small plates, and great bottles with friends.
mumok is the largest museum of modern and contemporary art in Central Europe, occupying a dramatic basalt lava building in the MuseumsQuartier. The collection spans classical modernism, Pop Art, Fluxus, Conceptual Art, and Vienna Actionism, with works by Warhol, Picasso, and Beuys. A serious institution that still manages to feel alive.
Secession was founded in 1897 by Klimt and a group of artists who walked away from the conservative art establishment, and it's still artist-run today. The Art Nouveau building is an icon, and what goes on inside lives up to it: contemporary exhibitions that take genuine risks. Austria's only artist-run exhibition hall.
MAK sits at the intersection of art, craft, and design, with a collection of around 900,000 objects spanning five centuries. It holds the world's largest collection of Wiener Werkstätte objects and is a reference point for anyone serious about Viennese design history. The building alone, along the Stubenring, is worth a visit.
Forward Festival convenes 1,500+ creatives across industries for 25+ talks by established and emerging voices, sharing insights into creative processes, challenges, and breakthroughs. Interactive workshops and immersive formats invite hands-on experimentation and new ways of thinking.
Vienna Art Week is an annual celebration of the city’s contemporary art scene, featuring exhibitions, open studios, talks, and performances across museums, galleries, and independent spaces. It brings together artists, curators, and the public for a citywide program showcasing current artistic practices.
An annual music festival and industry conference in Vienna, showcasing emerging artists alongside talks and networking events across multiple venues. It brings together international professionals and music fans to discover new sounds and foster collaboration.
viennacontemporary is an annual international art fair in Vienna that brings together galleries, artists, collectors, and curators to showcase contemporary art, with a strong focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Its program includes curated presentations, talks, and special projects.
Vienna Design Week is Austria’s leading design festival, activating venues across the city with exhibitions, installations, and talks that connect local and international creatives.
Wiener Festwochen stands for a bold mix of theatre, music, and performance with a lively, socially engaged vibe. Expect provocative projects, standout collaborations, and plenty to talk about.
Viennale is Vienna’s international film festival, lighting up the city each fall with premieres, filmmaker talks, and a curated mix of new discoveries and classics.
Kreativwirtschaft Austria is the national platform for Austria’s creative industries. They connect, support, and empower creatives through programs, resources, and inspiring events.
Vienna Business Agency supports creative and media companies with tailored consultations, funding programmes and networking events. They assist with new product ideas, media ventures and business development from concept to market entry.
Vienna Film Commission provides free support to national and international film productions, assisting with location scouting, permitting and connections to local industry partners.
An organization that supports and connects Austria’s fashion community by providing resources, networking, and programs that increase designers’ visibility at home and abroad. Austrian Fashion Association serves as a platform for collaboration and professional development across the industry.
mica – music austria is the go-to for Austria’s music scene, mixing a vibrant magazine with free support for artists like practical guides, model contracts, events, and export help.
I had my first Creative Lunch Club match on October of this year, and I have met pretty great people since then. Not only creatives, which is the reason why I joined: to connect with other creatives and share what I do as well, but I have met really nice people from all over the world here in Paris. Listening to other people's stories and experiences has been lovely because it also helps you connect and establish friendships (and have great food as well!).
The CLC is great because I can easily get to know previously unknown creative people in the city, gain new inspiration, expand my talent network and also discover new corners and restaurants in the city. I think CLC members are curious and open-minded people by nature. It's always exciting to learn more about the city's creative scene and its projects. At my previous meetings, we always had interesting discussions and the time for lunch was often far too short. I'm already looking forward to my next CLC.
Thanks to Creative Lunch Club and their beautiful concept I regularly get to meet new creative people in Vienna every month.
