Spending during Austria’s Carnival season, known as Fasching, is expected to climb to €35 million this year, according to the Austrian Retail Association (HV).
Fasching, the traditional festival leading up to Easter, is marked by costume parties, parades and masked balls.
A survey by the HV Consumer Check found that four in ten people in Austria plan to attend a Fasching event this year. Among those celebrating, average spending per person is set to rise by 15% in 2025, reaching €69. Most of this will go on costumes, food, drinks, snacks and makeup.
Fasching is particularly popular in western Austria, with high participation in Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg. In Upper Austria, one in two people is planning to attend a party, while in Vienna, the figure falls to one in three. Expected spending is highest in Burgenland and Lower Austria, where revellers are set to fork out €79 per person. Vienna follows at €75, with Styria and Carinthia at €67, Upper Austria and Salzburg at €64, and Tyrol and Vorarlberg at €60.
Beyond the festivities, Fasching plays a significant role in Austria’s economy.
“Fasching and the ball season are not just important traditional, social, and cultural events, but also key economic drivers,” said Rainer Will, spokesperson for the Austrian retail sector. “While an average of €245 per person is spent in retail for balls, Fasching accounts for a further €69.”
According to the HV Consumer Check, one in three people in Austria plans to attend at least one ball in 2025, underlining the continued importance of these celebrations for both the public and businesses.
