General Terms and Conditions

Bregenzer Festspiele GmbH

Scope of application

These general terms and conditions regulate the legal relations between the Bregenzer Festspiele GmbH and its customers. They are an integral part of the contract on the purchase of tickets.

Admission

The ticket price includes 10% value added tax. It does not include playbills, librettos or other services.

COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES FESTIVAL SUMMER 2023

As of 30. August 2022. Austria requires event organizers to appoint a Covid-19 representative and prepare a Covid-19 prevention concept. Furthermore, there are no safety regulations in effect. If the guidelines change, we will inform all guests in good time for the performance.

  • Buy Tickets

    Tickets may be ordered in writing, by telephone, online or at the Ticket Center. You may pay by invoice until four weeks prior to the date of the performance or by credit card. Unless credit card details are provided (card number, expiry date, CVC) during the order, it is not binding until full payment is received. The tickets are dispatched once full payment is received. If payment is not received within due time, the order is cancelled without further notice and the tickets are made available for sale to other parties.

  • Delivery Fee

    We charge a delivery fee of EUR 6 for tickets, gift vouchers and merchandise items. Digital tickets and digital gift vouchers (print@home) continue to be free of charge.

    You may only pick up your tickets directly at the Ticket Center, if is not possible to deliver them on time.

  • Discounts

    For organisational reasons, discounted tickets can only be purchased by telephone (+43 5574 407 6) or at the Ticket Center. Discounted tickets are valid only in conncection with the respective ID. If you fail to show the relevant ID, you must pay the difference between the discounted and the full price ticket. It is not possible to apply discounts after the tickes have been paid for. The tickets and the respective ID are checked at the entrance. Furthermore, tickets to third-party events cannot be discounted.

  • Tickets for Children

    Every person attending an event needs a ticket and a seat of their own. Children under the age of six are not allowed to attend any event of the Bregenzer Festspiele (proof of age required) except those specifically aimed at children.

  • print@home Ticket

    The print@home ticket is valid only for the event stated on the ticket (one A4 printout per person). If you print out your ticket, please fold it according to the instructions and make sure the print quality is adequate. Furthermore, we ask you to keep your printout safe and avoid it getting dirty or wet. Your ticket and - if required - your ID will be checked at the entrance. Treat your print@home ticket like currency. The print@home ticket is valid for one admission only and is validated the first time you enter the venue.

    Alternatively you can also use your print@home ticket as a mobile ticket and show it on your phone.

    Any attempt to replicate or modify the print@home ticket and electronic processing of the PDF file is strictly prohibited.

  • Gift Voucher

    Gift vouchers can be redeemed for all events of the Bregenzer Festspiele in accordance with ticket availability. Furthermore, it can be used for all items available for purchase online or at the Ticket Center. Vouchers may be purchased by telephone, online or at the Ticket Center. Unless you provide your credit card details (card number, expiry date, CVC) during the order, it is not binding until full payment is received. The voucher will be sent to you after payment either by e-mail or by post. If no payment is made, the order is cancelled automatically without further notice.

    The gift vocher cannot be exchanged for cash. The purchase of a gift voucher does not include a ticket reservation.

    Gift vouchers can be used for online bookings for 36 months (see date on the voucher). After three years, gift vouchers may only be redeemed by telephone or dirctly at the Ticket Center. This does not apply to goodwill vouchers. They are only valid until the date printed on the voucher and cannot be renewed or exchanged for cash.

  • Opening Hours | Entry Regulations | Latecomers

    The Ticket Center and the service hotline are open during the times stated on our website. During the festival season, the Ticket Center is open until the respective performance starts. External box offices normally open one hour before the respective performances start.

    In general, the venues open half an hour before the respective perocmances start. The Seebühne opens one hour before the opera starts. The entry hours may change because of the weather or for dramaturgical reasons. 

    Only the official programmes, which are announced in publications issued by the Bregenzer Festspiele, include the correct dates and start times of the performances. We reserve the right to short-term changes. The Bregenzer Festspiele does not take responsibility for other publications.

    Due to safety reasons and out of consideration for the artists on stage and other guests, the ticket holder is no longer entitled to their seats as soon as the performance starts.

    Guests who arrive late at any event of the Bregenzer Festspiele will only be admitted in the interval or accompanied by staff. Guests are not allowed to take a different seat other than that specified on their ticket. If guests are in the wrong seat, they may be asked to pay the price difference or asked to leave the venue.

  • Entry regulations

    For safety reasons and to guarantee fast and easy entry, please note the following entry regulations

    You can take the following items with you:​

    • bags (will be searched at the entrance)
    • plastic bottles (max. 0.5 litre)
    • cushions and blankets
    • all items sold by the Bregenzer Festspiele at the venue

    You CANNOT take the following items with you:       

    • glass bottles, glasses, thermos flasks, cups/mugs and cans
    • professional photography and video equipment (all telephoto and additional lenses, tripods and photo bags) and sound recording equipment
    • selfie sticks, laser pointers, laptops and tablets (exception: mobile phones)
    • suitcases, trolleys, bicycle and motorbike helmets, walking-stick umbrellas, child seats, booster seats and bulky items of any kind
    • knives and all items defined under the Austrian Weapons Act
    • animals (exception: certified assistance dogs / please notify us in advance)
    • Please note (Opera on the Lake): The outdoor seatign area offers very little space for objects brought in by guests. For security reasons there is no storage capacity inside the Festspielhaus. Lockers can be found at Bregenz central railway station (5-10 minutes' walk).
  • Free travel by bus and rail

    Tickets labelled with "vmobil" entitle the holder to use the the regional public transport (bus and train) to and from the venue on the day of the event.

  • Commercial Resale

    Only the sales partners of the Bregenzer Festspiele are entitled to the commercial resale of tickets and only with the explicit approval of the Bregenzer Festspiele. Taking part in performances, guided tours and introductory talks requires a valid ticket. The Bregenzer Festspiele may refuse to sell tickets to or provide replacement tickets for companies and individuals who commercially trade tickets or serve associated networks without permission.

    The Bregenzer Festspiele takes no responsibility for the validity of tickets provided by other ticket sellers or for their additional charges or other services.

    Only sponsors and sales partners of the Bregenzer Festspiele are entitled to use data (text, audio, image and video material owned by the Bregenzer Festspiele) for advertising purposes, as long as the material is credited appropriately.

    Important information for sales partners
    Touting and reselling tickets (with or without extra charge) at the festival venue is prohibited. This encourages the black market and its horrendous prices. Non-compliance may result in the sales partner being admonished or partly or completely blocked from buying tickets. 

  • Private Resale

    Tickets may be resold privately as long as there is no intent to realize profit. To take part in performances, guided tours and introductory talks a valid ticket is required.

    The Bregenzer Festspiele does not assume liability for the validity of tickets (analog or digital) purchased from private ticket providers. Further, the Bregenzer Festspiele advise you not to buy tickets from online platforms (e.g. Viagogo, Ebay, ...). As approximately 50% of the tickets are mobile tickets, misuse becomes more frequent. The Bregenzer Festspiele cannot guarantee that these tickets are valid. You buy these tickets at your own risk. The Bregenzer Festspiele reserves the right to report any misuse to the police.

    The Bregenzer Festspiele may refuse to sell tickets to or provide replacement tickets for individuals who resell tickets with the intent to make profit.

  • Exchange | Return of Tickets

    Paid tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. Changes in the cast or the programme do not entitle ticket holders to return or exchange tickets. The Bregenzer Festspiele will do their best to inform the ticker buyer in good time before the performance about any changes in the cast or programme.

    The right to withdraw from a contract in case of remote sale pursuant to § 11 FAGG does not apply to the purchase of  admission tickets, since the services in question are leisure services as defined in §18 (1) Z 10 FAGG (Austrian federal law).

    If a performance is sold out, tickets can be returned for resale - without guarantee - on commission. The commission fee is 20% of the original ticket price. Your request will be processed as soon as it is possible to resell the tickets. Tickets that have not been resold, cannot be refunded.

  • Loss of Tickets

    In case the tickets are lost, the ticket buyer may ask for replacement tickets once. Replacement tickets require a written request and can only be handed over to the ticket holder if they can prove which tickets they booked (exact seat- and row number). Replacement tickets have priority over original tickets, granting only the holder of the replacement ticket entrance.

  • Cancellation due to rain | Exchange & Refund

    Tickets in categories 1plus, 1, 2 and Festival-Lounge as well as Premium tickets  ("gültig für Seebühne + Festspielhaus / keine Rückerstattung) are valid for the semi-staged version in the Festspielhaus | Großer Saal. These tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. If a performance is cancelled and moved to the Festspielhaus | Großer Saal, category 1plus and category 1 seats are located in the stalls, Festival-Lounge and Premium seats as well as category 2 seats in the circle. Seats that are next to each other outside may not be next to each other in the Festspielhaus | Großer Saal because of the different seating plan.

    If a performance is cancelled and moved to the Festspielhaus | Großer Saal, there is a check room for your rain clothes.

    Tickets in categories 3 to 7 ("gültig nur für die Seebühne") are valid only for the performance on the Seebühne.

    Exchange your tickets (subject to availability):

    • at the Ticket Center of the Bregenzer Festspiele (until the end of the season) or by telephone: +43 5574 407 6.

    Get a refund

    • by completing the following online form
    • by returning the original tickets and submitting your bank details (IBAN and BIC) by post or by e-mail
    • Please note: If you bought your tickets via CTS Eventim or Ö-Ticket, please contact their customer service to get a refund.
  • Public Tours

    You can buy tickets by telephone at +43 5574 4076, online, or at the Ticket Center of the Bregenzer Festspiele. We recommend buying tickets in advance.

    Rehearsals, renovations or inclement weather conditions may affect the tour program. This does not entitle you to cancel or change the date of the tour. Animals, except certified service dogs, are not allowed.

    Entry Regulations

    • Children and students under 26 are free of charge, however, they still need a ticket. 
    • For safety reasons and to protect the stage, the Seebühne may only be entered with suitable shoes, i.e. closed shoes with a solid sole (no heels). The Bregenzer Festspiele preserves the right to deny admission to anyone with unsuitable shoes. It is not possible to change or cancel a guided tour or individual tickets on the day of the tour because of unsuitable shoes. 
    • It is not possible to bring strollers to the guided tour. For safety reasons they cannot be deposited inside the Festspielhaus. 
    • Wheelchair users can participate in guided tours. The Seebühne is not fully accesible, however, there is a waiting area behind the stage for wheelchair users.
  • Guided Tours for Groups

    Reservation & Booking
    Guided tours for groups can be booked online, via e-mail at ticket@bregenzerfestspiele.com or via phone. Guided tours for small groups of less than 20 people can only be booked by e-mail or by phone. The booking is binding once the Bregenzer Festspiele sends a reservation confirmation by e-mail and may only be changed or cancelled within the deadline stated in the following. After the invoice has been issued the outstanding balance must be paid within the payment period. The following payment options are available: bank transfer, credit card or cash on the day of the tour at the Ticket Center of the Bregenzer Festspiele. The Bregenzer Festspiele preserves the right to cancel the guided tour if the invoice is not paid within the payment period.

    The reservation confirmation and a payment confirmation are accepted as a ticket for the guided tour.  

    Cancellation | Changes
    You may change the number of participants as well as the date (both based on availability) or cancel your booking free of charge until one week (seven days) before the planned tour. Please note the expiry date of the option specified on the reservation confirmation. Cancellations or changes to the booking must always be made via e-mail at ticket@bregenzerfestspiele.com. If you do not notify us about any changes or cancel on time, the full amount as stated on the invoice will be charged. Delays of less than 20 minutes are accepted, however, the tour will be shortened accordingly. Please inform us about possible delays via e-mail. If the group is delayed more than 20 minutes the tour is considered cancelled. The full amount will be charged.

    Rehearsals, renovations or inclement weather conditions may affect the tour program. This does not entitle you to cancel or change the date of the tour. Animals, except certified service dogs, are not allowed.

    Prices
    The price for groups of more than 20 people is EUR 8.00 per person. Small groups of less than 20 people pay a fixed price of EUR 160. Guided tours for children and student groups (<26 years) are free. If, however, the group fails to show up without prior notice, a fee of EUR 8.00 per person will be charged.

    Children and students under 26 are free of charge, however, they must be included in the total number of participants. The same applies to accompanying people, such as teachers, tour guides or bus drivers.

    Due to the non-profit status, all cultural events of the Bregenzer Festspiele are subject to 10% VAT.

    Group Size
    The group size is subject to availability. However, due to safety reasons, the group size is limited to 25 people per guide. If there are more than 25 people in one group, an additional guide is needed. If there are more than 25 people in one group on the day of the tour without prior notice, no more than 25 people can participate.

    The total number of participants must include accompanying people, such as teachers, tour guides or bus drivers, as well as children and students under 26. An additional guide is subject to availability.

    Entry regulations

    • For safety reasons and to protect the stage, the Seebühne may only be entered with suitable shoes, i.e. closed shoes with a solid sole (no heels). the Bregenzer Festspiele preserves the right to deny admission to anyone with unsuitable shoes. It is not possible to change or cancel a guided tour or individual tickets on the day of the tour because of unsuitable shoes. 
    • It is not possible to bring strollers to the guided tour. For safety reasons they cannot be deposited inside the Festspielhaus. 
    • Wheelchair users can participate in guided tours. The Seebühne is not fully accessible, however, there is a waiting area behind the stage for wheelchair users.
  • Method of Payment

    Credit/ Debit Card 

    You may pay by credit or debit card when booking online, by telephone or at the Ticket Center. The Bregenzer Festspiele accept VISA, Master Card and American Express as well as debit cards. The sum will be charged to the credit or debit card given. Please note that you need 3-D-secure for online payments. The tickets will then be delivered promptly by e-mail or post or held back for pick up at the Ticket Center.

    Invoice / advance payment

    Once an order has been processed, an invoice will be sent by e-ail or by post within a few days. The full sum must be paid by the payment date stated in the invoice.  If payment is not received by the due date, the Bregenzer Festspiele cannot guarantee a reservation of the ticket(s). For organisational reasons, advance payment of an invoice is only possible until 4 weeks before the respective performance.

    Other methods of payment

    The Bregenzer Festspiele does not offer or accept any other methods of payment (Paypal, cheque, etc).

  • Sound and/or image

    Sound and/or image recordings are not permitted on the grounds of copyright infringement and the possibility of disturbing performers and audience members. Please note that ticket holders who ignore this prohibition will be excluded from the event without any entitlement to reimbursement.

    Guests consent to image recordings being made of them and to the associated use thereof (photography, TV and video recordings) by the Bregenzer Festspiele or authorised third parties. If you have any questions, please ask our staff upon entering the venue.

  • Relocate Seating

    The Bregenzer Festspiele reserves the right to reallocate seating for organisational or security reasons. If a booked seat is reallocated, the replacement seat will either be in the same price category or upgraded to a better category.

  • Denial of Access

    Ticket holders may be denied access if there is good reason to suppose that they will disrupt the performance or cause a nuisance to other guests. Access may also be denied if ticket holders have not complied with the Terms and Conditions at previous performances. Anyone who hinders the ticket sale, particularly by offering or sellling tickets privately on our premises, may be ejected from the festival grounds. Ticket holders may be asked to leave a performance if they disrupt it, cause a nuisance to other guests or if they have occupied a seat for which they have no valid ticket.

    Cell phones, pagers and acoustic signal transmitters of any kind may only be taken into the venue when turned off.

  • Smoking

    Smoking and vaping is permitted only in specially designated zones.

  • Animals

    Animals, except assistance dogs with an appropriate certificate, are not permitted in the venues because of health, safety and fire protection regulations.

  • Lost Property

    Items of any kind which are found in the Festspielhaus should be handed over to the porter. Should you have lost an item please also call the porter at +43 5574 4070.

  • Data Protection Provisions

    Protecting our customers' personal data when using our website http://www.bregenzerfestspiele.com is very important to us. For more information on how we proccess personal data please take a look at our data protection policy

Last Updated: 07.08.2022