For 30 years, the International Offices of the City of Vienna have been building bridges between Vienna and its partner regions across Europe and beyond. At an anniversary celebration at the Wien Museum on 19 October 2026, the organisation marked three decades of successful cooperation together with Michael Ludwig, Mayor of Vienna, Barbara Novak, Deputy Mayor of Vienna, and many of its longstanding international partners.

Following the fall of the Iron Curtain, Vienna once again found itself at the heart of Europe. When the City of Vienna established its network of international offices in 1996, the focus was on sharing information and strengthening ties with the capitals of neighbouring countries. Thirty years later, the network has offices in Belgrade, Berlin, Budapest, Kraków, Ljubljana, Prague, Sarajevo, Sofia and Zagreb. Relations with Bratislava are coordinated by the head office in Vienna. The offices have been part of Wien Holding’s WH Media Group since 2016 and have operated under the name City of Vienna International Offices since 2023.

Cooperation between cities in the network has brought tangible benefits. When Kraków decided to build a waste incineration plant in 2007, for example, the City of Vienna provided advice and support. Today, the plant serves as a model for others. Vienna, in turn, has drawn on Prague’s experience to modernise its parking enforcement. In 2024, a delegation from Vienna’s parking enforcement service visited Prague to learn how the city uses vehicles equipped with scanning technology to monitor paid parking zones. Vienna has been trialling a similar vehicle since the beginning of 2026.

Vienna as a Hub for Innovation and Start-ups

International partnerships are becoming increasingly important as cities face major global challenges. In fields ranging from digitalisation, life sciences and healthcare to research, innovation and sustainable urban development, cities make progress by learning from one another, sharing expertise and developing solutions together.

Looking ahead, the International Offices will step up their efforts to promote Vienna as a place to do business, attracting companies to the city and encouraging entrepreneurs to launch start-ups there. Another long-term goal is to strengthen Vienna’s position as a leading centre for digitalisation and a hub for the innovative and responsible development of artificial intelligence.

A new office is scheduled to open in Riga in 2027. This will strengthen Vienna’s presence in a region known across Europe for its pioneering work in digitalisation and e-governance, as well as its thriving start-up scene.

Further information

30th anniversary celebration of the City of Vienna International Offices – City of Vienna
W24 Report on the 30th Anniversary of Vienna International Offices (video)