Ski-Opening Festival Schladming
Since the Planai course was built at the foot of Schladming’s slopes, the mountain has been synonymous with big winter crowds — it’s been the regular home of the World Cup night slalom, drawing 50,000 spectators a year since the late 1990s. The Ski-Opening festival channels that same energy into the start of the ski season itself, turning the purpose-built Planai-Stadion into one of the Alps’ biggest season-opening parties.Held annually each December as the lifts begin turning for the winter, the festival fills the outdoor stadium with tens of thousands of skiers and music fans for a weekend that mixes fresh Planai powder by day with headline concerts by night.
Festival Highlights:
- Headline Concerts: the stadium stage hosts major international pop and rock acts each year, drawing crowds that regularly top 25,000 a night.
- Ski Season Kickoff: the event doubles as the region’s official opening of the winter season, with freshly groomed Planai and Hochwurzen slopes ready for the weekend’s skiers.
- Planai-Stadion Setting: the purpose-built outdoor arena at the base of the mountain gives every show a full alpine backdrop, floodlit slopes and all.
- Ski-and-Stay Packages: the Schladming-Dachstein Tourist Board bundles concert tickets with lift passes and partner-hotel lodging, making it easy to combine the show with a full ski trip.
Tips for Visitors & Trip Planning:
- Tickets: admission is standing-room in the stadium and demand is high given the headline acts — tickets and the combined ski-and-concert packages both tend to sell out, so buying early is worth it.
- Best Viewing Spot: the stadium fills up fast once gates open, so arrive early if you want to be close to the stage rather than watching from the back of the standing area.
- Getting There: Schladming has its own train station on the main Salzburg–Graz line, with regular connections from Salzburg; drivers can reach it via the A9 and B320.
- What to Wear: this is an outdoor stadium show in early winter — warm layered clothing, a hat and gloves, and waterproof boots are essential even if you’re not skiing that day.
- Accommodation: Schladming’s hotels fill up around the festival weekend, so booking well in advance is strongly recommended.
- Explore Schladming: the wider Schladming-Dachstein region offers hiking, cable cars and lake trips beyond the festival weekend — browse top Schladming tours and activities here.
The full concert lineup and ski-and-stay package details get published closer to the event. See details below, under “Event Related Information” section.
Add Comment