Every autumn, Graz hosts a festival you won’t easily find anywhere else. Elevate combines electronic music, contemporary art and political debate into one coherent whole — and a large part of the programme is completely free. Workshops, lectures and outdoor concerts are freely accessible; only some of the club nights require a ticket. For those who want to think and dance, Elevate is unique in Europe.
Mostly free — extensive programme of workshops, lectures and outdoor concerts is completely free. Some club nights require a ticket.
What makes Elevate special
Most festivals choose: music or ideas. Elevate refuses that distinction. The festival is built on the conviction that art and politics are not separate. Climate change, digital rights, social equality, urban politics — the speakers and artists share the same stage.
What you’ll find
Electronic music ranging from techno and ambient to experimental and club. Free lectures and debates by international thinkers, activists and researchers. Art installations throughout the festival venues in Graz’s UNESCO World Heritage historic city centre.
Practical info
- Date 2026: October/November (exact dates via website)
- Entry: lectures, workshops and some concerts free; club nights with ticket
- Location: various venues in Graz, Styria, Austria
- Getting there: train from Vienna (~2.5 hrs) or Salzburg
- Tip: plan at least two days — the combination of day sessions and evening music has its own rhythm
- More info: elevate.at