Graz Theatre: Stable Visitor Numbers Amidst €14.6M Savings Plan

Graz’s performing arts venues—including the Opera, Schauspielhaus, and Next Liberty—maintained roughly stable attendance levels in the 2024/25 season, with a total of 480,490 visits. This figure is comparable to the 478,861 visits recorded in the 2023/24 season, though approximately 30,000 fewer than pre-CoV pandemic levels.

Attendance Figures Remain Steady

According to Bühnen Graz Geschäftsführer Bernhard Rinner, this trend has been consistent since the 2022/2023 season. The Opera attracted 146,788 visitors, down from 152,119 the previous year, while the Schauspielhaus saw 63,909 attendees, an increase from 60,708. Next Liberty, a youth theater, welcomed 44,038 visitors, slightly fewer than the 46,704 recorded previously.

Did You Know? The Bühnen Graz encompasses not only the Opera, Schauspielhaus, and Next Liberty, but also venues including Orpheum, Dom im Berg, and Kasematten am Schloßberg, contributing an additional 225,755 tickets sold to the total attendance.

Significant Budget Cuts Ahead

Despite the relatively stable visitor numbers, Bühnen Graz is preparing for a substantial austerity programme. The organization must reduce spending by approximately 14.6 million euros between now and the 2028/29 season. A reduction of around four million euros is already planned for the current 2025/26 season.

The extent of future budget adjustments will depend on the consumer price index in June, according to Rinner. For 2026/27, a planned savings of 2 million euros, combined with the loss of a standard cost-of-living adjustment, will create a 3.7 million euro shortfall. Further budget reductions of 3.4 million euros are anticipated in 2027/28 due to continued lack of cost-of-living adjustments. While a cost-of-living adjustment may be possible in 2028/29, it would be based on the value from 2025/26.

Planned Measures

Rinner outlined a series of measures to address the financial challenges, including the cancellation of the Sommeroper at the Kasematten, a shift to a paid model for the Klanglicht event, a halt to new investments, the liquidation of reserves, reductions in operating costs, and a decrease in the number of new productions. He stated, “It is not easy, but it is just manageable.”

Expert Insight: The planned cuts represent a significant challenge for Bühnen Graz, requiring a careful balancing act between maintaining artistic quality and responding to fiscal constraints. The decision to introduce fees for events previously offered free of charge, such as Klanglicht, demonstrates the difficult trade-offs being considered.

Specifically, one planned opera production has been replaced with a revival of a ballet, and four productions will be sourced from other companies. The Klanglicht light art event, previously a free attraction in the city center, will be relocated to Schloss Eggenberg in 2026 and will require ticket purchases for entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the attendance numbers for the 2024/25 season?

The Bühnen Graz recorded a total of 480,490 visits in the 2024/25 season, which is approximately the same as the 478,861 visits in 2023/24.

How much money needs to be saved by 2029?

Approximately 14.6 million euros must be saved by the end of the 2028/29 season.

What changes are planned for the Klanglicht event?

In 2026, Klanglicht will be moved to Schloss Eggenberg and will no longer be a free event; tickets will be required for admission.

As Bühnen Graz navigates these budgetary constraints, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the organization’s artistic programming and its relationship with the Graz community.