Your ultimate guide to Vienna's Ball Season

Opulent robes, artfully decorated ballrooms and the joyous sounds of the waltz echoing through the rooms: No other event compares to the magic of Vienna's Ball Season. Each year, from roughly November through to Mardi Gras, the Austrian capital transforms into one giant dance floor.

Vienna hosts around 450 balls per season, ranging from the world-famous Vienna Opera Ball (Wiener Opernball) held at the Vienna State Opera, to the Philharmoniker Ball, the Coffeehouse Owners' Ball and hundreds of guild, association and charity balls. Tickets for the most prestigious events are highly sought after and often booked months or even years in advance.

For first-timers, attending a Viennese ball is a memorable experience. Women traditionally wear long ball gowns and men wear tailcoats or uniforms. The evening typically begins with an opening ceremony by debutante couples, followed by dancing that continues until the early hours of the morning.