Key winter events in the Austrian Tirol
11 – 17 December 2016: Altitude Festival Moves dates to kick off the winter
The 11th Altitude Festival will move from its traditional Spring-season slot and instead ensure a hilarious start to the winter in Mayrhofen. The famous comedy festival coined as “the funniest show on snow” presents a raucous mix of top UK stand-up acts, music and skiing over five, fun-filled days. Previous headliners include Eddie Izzard and John Bishop, and this season’s stellar line-up will showcase Zoe Lyons, Andy Askins, Daniel Sloss, Glenn Wool, Kai Humphries and of course The Improv Allstars, with many more acts to be announced. The Altitude Festival’s organisers say they intend to top the week off with a spectacular Festival of Light in Mayrhofen: a dazzling spectacle which can be enjoyed with some free Glühwein and Austrian snacks. And as it’s Christmas, Mayrhofen will also be organising an Austrian Christmas Market in the nearby enchanted forest.
For more information, visit: www.altitudefestival.com.
3 – 4 January 2017: Four Hills Tournament in Innsbruck
Watch the world’s top ski jumpers as they gather at the Bergisel ski jump in Innsbruck for the third round of the Jack Wolfskin Four Hills Tournament. At 50 metres high and 90 metres long, the jump is one of the most popular spectator events in the professional winter sports calendar. For more information, visit: www.bergiselspringen.at.
14 – 29 January 2017: Sled dog camp and races in PillerseeTal
It’s a dog’s (and ‘musher’s) life at the sled dog camp and races in PillerseeTal. Guests have the opportunity to meet the mushers and their dogs and learn all about their life and craft of wild sled running at this four-day event. Activities include dog sleigh rides, igloo building and chats round the campfire. Those who want to get more involved can take the three-day Adventure Husky course and learn to mush with the experts. The course includes four nights’ accommodation, three-day mushing course for beginners and some meals. For more information, visit: www.kitzbueheler-alpen.com/en/pillerseetal/winter/sled-dog-camp-races.html.
15 – 22 January 2017: 77th Hahnenkamm Men’s Downhill, Kitzbühel
Regarded as the most demanding race course in the World Cup circuit, the famous Hahnenkamm will attract the world’s best skiers and thousands of spectators. It’s a sight to behold. For more information, visit: www.kitzbuehel.com or www.fis-ski.com.
26 – 29 January 2017: World Luge Championships, Innsbruck
Once again the World Luge Championships will thunder into Innsbruck-Igls as the top athletes battle it out on the Olympic Bobsleigh Run. The Olympic Bobsleigh Run was built for the 1976 Olympic Winter Games at Innsbruck. Visitors can watch this major World Cup event and even give the sport a go with a qualified pilot when the track is not in use for competition. For more information, visit: www.tyrol.com/things-to-do/events/all-events/e-luge-world-cup-in-innsbruck-igls.
6 February 2017: Billabong Air & Style, Innsbruck
Join the crowds for a day of intense competition at the Billabong Air & Style show where the world’s most skilled snowboarders do battle at Innsbruck’s outdoor Bergisel ski-jump. For more information, visit: www.air-style.com.
8 – 19 February 2017: World Championships Biathlon in Hochfilzen
The organisers of the 2017 BMW IBU World Championships Biathlon have added this year’s event to the Hochfilzen Biathlon Centre’s legacy of successful sport competitions. Situated at an elevation of 1,000 metres, at the heart of Pillerseetal Valley, Hochfilzen invites spectators to watch the biathletes race around the course.
For more information, visit: www.tyrol.com/things-to-do/events/all-events/e-2017-bmw-ibu-world-championships-biathlon-in-hochfilzen.
17 & 24 February 2017: Experience a sensational new multimedia dance show on snow performed by Enrique Gasa Valga.
A new multimedia dance performance ‘Gaia Stubai – Mother Earth’ will premier at the Neuland open-air arena in Neustift/Milders on Friday 17 February. Presented by world-famous dancer and choreographer, Enrique Gasa Valga, this stunning outdoor spectacle will combine dance, music, freestyle skiing, light, multimedia installations and 3D mapping. The music will cover a wide range of genres; from touching orchestral pieces to rhythmically intense dance numbers and rock history classics, making the show attractive to a wide audience. Gasa Valga has been the director of ballet for the Tirolean state theatre since 2009, and he is excited about escaping the limits of the stage with this new production. He says: “It’s the scenery. Here in Neustift, I feel I have infinite space.”
‘Gaia Stubai’ will premier on Friday 17 February in Neustift. The second show will take place a week later on Friday 24 February. Children under 10 go free. For more information, visit: www.gaia-stubai.com.
4 – 9 April 2017: Snowbombing, Mayrhofen
Famous for its adrenaline-fuelled snowboarding and crazy partying, the annual Snowbombing festival will take over the resort of Mayrhofen in the Zillertal, with leading DJs, club nights and live acts performing. For more information, visit: www.snowbombing.com.
6 – 7 April 2017: Electric Mountain Festival, Sölden
Over in the Oetztal, Sölden hosts a fantastic mix of music, mountains, snow and skiing to mark the end of the season. For more information, visit: www.electric-mountain-festival.com
21 April 2017: HANNIBAL at the Open-Air Theatre, Sölden
Based on the historical crossing of the Alps, by the famous Carthaginian strategist Hannibal, the play HANNIBAL will re-enact the daring, and often terrifying mission that was undertaken by 60,000 soldiers and 37 elephants in just 10 days. More than 500 actors will take part in the production at the Open-Air Theatre on Rettenbach Glacier (3,000 metres altitude), and it’s expected to attract an audience of circa 8,000. For more information, visit: www.oetztal.com/en.
22 April 2017: The White Thrill, St. Anton Am Arlberg
When the lifts close in the afternoon, the White Thrill heats up. More than 550 participants will take part in this cult ski race, which comprises a nine kilometre run on natural pistes across 1,300 metres’ altitude. Look out for ‘Pain Mountain’, a 150 metre ascent which demands high levels of dexterity. The current record for this part of the race is eight minutes and 14 seconds, so start training now. For more information, visit: www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/events/the-white-thrill-2017.
30 April 2017: Ischgl Top of the Mountain Concert
Following tradition, Ischgl will host its famous Top of the Mountain Concert at Easter to celebrate the end of the season. Big names such as Kylie Minogue, Pink and Elton John have performed here in previous years. The 2017 headliner is yet to be revealed, so watch this space. For more information, visit: www.ischgl.com/en.
For more information on the Tirol region www.visittirol.co.uk or keep updated at www.facebook.com/visittirol or @VisitTirol on twitter
