If you look at the news, you get the feeling that everyone is fighting against everyone else. A whole nation hates another. Sometimes just because of prejudices and adopting other opinions. That's why a festival that encourages togetherness and shows that we are basically not so different is so important. That was one of the aims of the Festival of Regions.
It was a monster project: for ten days, 34 locations in Braunau, the German town of Simbach, Ried im Innkreis, Schärding, Obernberg, Ostermiething and Ranshofen breathed life into the term "art". 165 artists took part, two thirds of whom were women and non-binary people.
The festival has been around since 1993, but back then it was divided up between regions throughout Upper Austria. This year, between June 13 and 22, 2025, the festival wanted to encourage people to simply take part. With the theme "Realistic Dreaming", the aim was to encourage people to be brave and try out new things.
Otto Tremetzberger, Managing Director of the Festival of Regions, commented on the choice of location: "The festival is also a challenge for every region. The invitation to a dance that not everyone likes. We experience the people of Innviertel as open and curious. You can feel that there is a lot of energy in this region."
What exactly was on offer?
The festival wanted to both change things and strengthen the region. To achieve this, there was a peace hike, among other things. Starting in Braunau, jazz trombonist Paul Zauner and photographer Andreas Mühlleitner set off on foot to Schärding.
While cooking chicken soup together, there was time to talk, laugh, sing and everyone was allowed to take on the role of cook.
For people who like background information, there was a chance to talk to artists to find out their motivation and ask more about their work.
True to the motto that you should take part yourself, you could try your hand at composing songs and take part in a songwriting contest.
One of the most popular projects was the "Poetry Slam", where participants "battled it out" with poems.
More than 50 different projects were offered for children and young people! So nobody missed out.
On the penultimate day, the "Festival of Encounters" took place on the upper town square in Braunau. Other cultures were celebrated here for almost the entire afternoon. Afghan dance music was represented as well as the Innviertler Landler or a Bosnian folk dance. Local up-and-coming artists presented their skills, as did a young Iranian singer. The writer Emran Feroz read from his book "Vom Westen nichts Neues" and an international fashion show was held to the sounds of "I wanna be (500 Miles)" by the Proclaimers.
Of course, this was only a brief excerpt. You could also dance, take part in an "interview" with a statue (the poet Franz Stelzhammer was confronted with topics such as populism and hate speech), witness the reading of a will in front of Hitler's birthplace and much more. All in all, visitors were spoiled for choice from more than 100 events.
There was even an extra travel card
The FdR Travelcard was created to ensure easy and, above all, climate-friendly travel. For 10 euros per day, you could travel by bus or train from anywhere in Upper Austria.
Incidentally, all the events were free of charge. Guests could decide for themselves whether and how much money they wanted to put in the "Pay as you Wish" box.
Would you like to see for yourself? The decision on which region will host next year will be made in the fall. However, it will not be officially announced until spring 2026.
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Credits:
Interviews with participants and guests on June 21, 2025
Festival of the Regions - Innviertel.at
Pictures: Ingrid Müller
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