A Refined Alternative to the Times Square Ball Drop

For those who prefer that the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop won’t define the New York celebrations, there is always a more graceful alternative: Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert, at Lincoln Center for a festive New Year’s Day performance.

Celebrating 30 years of performances across North America, Salute to Vienna transforms a beloved European tradition into a cherished New Year’s Day event in New York City.

Waltz into Vienna’s Golden Age

Inspired by Vienna’s world-famous Neujahrskonzert at the legendary Musikverein, Salute to Vienna recreates the elegance and musical spirit of the Golden Age with orchestra, opera, ballet, and ballroom dance.

Audiences can expect:

• A full symphony orchestra

• Elegant ballet and ballroom dancers in period costume

• Celebrated international vocal soloists

• Timeless music by Johann Strauss II and his contemporaries

Selections include beloved operettas, lively overtures, romantic arias, and classic waltzes—culminating in the iconic “Blue Danube Waltz”.

Celebrating 200 Years of Johann Strauss II

The 2026 season marked the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss II, often called The Waltz King. His music—joyful, lyrical, and unmistakably Viennese—forms the heart of the program, offering a celebratory and reflective way to welcome the New Year.

Under the direction of a conductor deeply versed in Viennese musical traditions, the concert balances precision, warmth, and charm, echoing the spirit of performances by the Vienna Philharmonic.

A New Year’s Tradition for Music Lovers

For three decades, Salute to Vienna has introduced more than one million North Americans to this enduring European celebration, filling concert halls across the United States and Canada every January 1.

At its core, the concert is about connection—music as a shared experience that brings audiences together at the threshold of a new year. In uncertain times, its message resonates deeply: art endures, traditions matter, and beauty has the power to unite.

Performance Details

Featured 2026 Artists:
Rebecca Nelsen, soprano
Thomas Weinhappel, baritone

Why Attend Salute to Vienna

• A refined New Year’s Day alternative in NYC

• A concert experience welcoming all generations

• A blend of orchestral music, opera, and ballet

• A living tradition rooted in Vienna’s musical heritage

As founders Marion and Attila Glatz have shared, their mission has always been to bring Vienna’s New Year’s magic to North American audiences—ensuring this musical legacy remains vibrant and accessible