Annual report 2024/25

Strong foundation for the future of the Austrian Federal Theatres . 10-year review of the Austrian Federal Theatre Holding under the leadership of Christian Kircher

The Austrian Federal Theatres enjoyed sensational public interest again in the 2024/25 financial year. Ticket sales continued to increase in all theatres, and the trend is continuing in the current season. 

On the expenditure side, however, inflation-related cost increases, especially in the area of personnel, led to major challenges for the long-term financing of the Federal Theatre Group.

he 2024/25 season was marked by increases in almost all artistic and economic areas. In the 2024/25 season, a total of 1,328,845 visitors (previous year: 1,315,955) were welcomed to 1,650 performances (previous year: 1,674). The popularity with audiences is also reflected in seat occupancy rates. In the reporting year, the Vienna State Opera was practically 100% (98.9%) full, the Vienna Volksoper 85.5% (previous year: 83.9%) and the Burgtheater 79.2% (previous year: 71.6%). Revenue from ticket sales increased again by 3.8% (previous year: 14.4%) to EUR 64.7 million (previous year: EUR 62.3 million). Revenues for the entire Bundestheaterkonzern amounted to EUR 94.3 million in the reporting year (previous year: EUR 85.3 million). Investments were also very high again at EUR 39.5 million (previous year: EUR 37.3 million).

However, the lack of value retention in the basic compensation in the form of automatic inflation adjustment makes long-term planning difficult. Various savings scenarios are currently being developed on behalf of the BMWKMS. 

Over the past ten years, numerous decisions have been made in areas such as governance, digitalisation, sustainability and compliance to ensure a modern and cost-efficient company, thus laying the foundation for the sustainable development of the world's largest theatre group.

Milestones from 2016 to 2026

With its compliance management system and its commitment to transparency, integrity and ethical conduct, first set out in writing in 2016 in its Code of Conduct, the Austrian Federal Theatres are playing a pioneering role in the field of governance.

An important step for young talent was taken with the establishment of the Academy for Theatre Crafts in the 2024/25 financial year and the accompanying apprenticeship campaign. The success was enormous, with over 600 applications for 20 apprenticeships starting in autumn 2026.

Through digitalisation and the introduction of state-of-the-art technologies, analogue processes were replaced by electronic workflows. This applies in particular to the digitalisation of accounting and payroll accounting following the merger of these two functions in the Austrian Federal Theatre Holding.

The installation of an energy and environmental management system and the use of innovative technologies have resulted in a 35.5% reduction in energy consumption since 2014. All theatre companies have been awarded the eco-label, and the Austrian Federal Theatres have been ISO 50001 certified since 2015.

Internal audits covering virtually all commercial and organisational areas of the group resulted in 445 improvement measures, 85% of which have already been implemented.

Visitor convenience has been increased both through infrastructure measures such as new seating in the Akademie and Burgtheater and the new opera foyer with the Federal Theatre box office, as well as through the new ticket sales software.

Accessibility is an important issue that the Austrian Federal Theatres are addressing through ongoing construction measures, inclusive outreach programmes and barrier-free communication.

For Christian Kircher, who will be pursuing new opportunities after 10 years as managing director of Bundestheater-Holding from 1 April 2026, there are several reasons for the success of the Austrian federal theatres: ‘On the one hand, the unbroken interest of the audience speaks for the artistic quality of the programming, and on the other hand, the Bundestheater-Holding, as the parent company, creates a basis with its corporate structures that gives the individual theatres the space they need for their artistic work.’

‘In recent years, the Austrian Federal Theatres have not only achieved a great deal in terms of audience response, but have also taken on a pioneering role at the corporate level in many areas such as process and cost optimisation, compliance, apprentice training, energy management, etc.,’ said Christian Kircher at the end of the press conference.