Vienna is hosting a unique event this summer, one that’s drawing comparisons to California’s famed Coachella festival – but with a decidedly healthier bent. The Feel Good Festival, celebrating its tenth anniversary from June 26th to 28th, is quickly becoming a cornerstone of Austria’s wellness scene, attracting over 5,000 participants annually. What began as a small gathering of 250 people has blossomed into a three-day event offering everything from yoga and Pilates to High Intensity Training (HIT), dance courses, meditation and even ice bathing. This isn’t just a fitness trend; it’s a growing movement focused on holistic wellbeing, and a testament to the power of community.
The festival’s origins are somewhat ironic, according to co-founder Axel Hübner. He admits, with a self-deprecating chuckle, that he’s “totally immobile” despite orchestrating the country’s largest yoga event. Hübner, along with Moritz Forster, initially built their business organizing parties. But a desire to create something more meaningful led them to explore the burgeoning world of health and wellness. “We wanted to do something that was about health,” Forster explained. “A festival where everyone came together, no matter what age, no matter what gender. A Coachella for fitness.”
A Surprisingly Inclusive Space
Despite the founders’ initial focus on creating an inclusive event, the Feel Good Festival currently skews heavily female, with 92 percent of attendees identifying as women. Forster acknowledges they’ve tried various campaigns to attract a more balanced audience, adapting the program to include activities geared towards men, but haven’t yet seen significant results. “You can’t force people to come to us,” he says, adding that they aren’t discouraged by the demographic imbalance. What they *are* focused on is creating a welcoming atmosphere for all ages. “We really try to be the only festival that you can attend with your mother,” Forster noted.
The atmosphere at the festival is distinctly different from traditional music festivals. While beverages are available, Hübner says consumption is minimal. “People simply don’t consume them,” he observed. The focus is on self-improvement and mindful experiences. Attendees consistently report feeling rejuvenated and grounded after the event, describing it as a restorative experience akin to a vacation. This emphasis on wellbeing is a key differentiator, setting the Feel Good Festival apart from events centered around entertainment and indulgence.
Expanding the Team and the Vision
Five years ago, Lisa-Marie Schönberger and Anja Heiß joined the founding team, bringing their expertise in the wellness industry. Heiß, a certified yoga teacher, now plays a crucial role in curating the festival’s program. The team deliberately avoids relying on celebrity endorsements, prioritizing trust and community over big names. “We’ve already sold a thousand tickets without a single name being confirmed. There’s an extremely high level of trust,” Schönberger explained. This year, however, the festival is welcoming well-known Austrian extreme athlete Michael Strasser, whose outdoor workouts in Vienna’s parks regularly draw large crowds.
While Schönberger and Heiß are now fully employed by the festival, Hübner and Forster continue to balance their involvement with other careers – Hübner as a cloud specialist. This allows them to maintain a passion project without the financial pressures of complete dependence. “I think it would be different if we were financially dependent on it,” Hübner said. The festival wasn’t always financially viable, however. Forster emphasizes the importance of perseverance, recalling that the first few years were marked by losses. “That’s probably one of the biggest lessons: You have to stick with a topic, even if it doesn’t pay off financially at the beginning.”
Lessons Learned and Future Growth
Beyond financial resilience, the founders learned the importance of attending to basic logistical details. “You have to listen to people and the basics have to be right. For example, if the toilets don’t perform, no matter how great the event is, the negative will stick,” Forster cautioned. That attention to detail appears to have paid off, as the festival has become financially sustainable in recent years.
This year marks a significant expansion for the Feel Good Festival, with the addition of a dedicated day – Friday – focused on team-building events for companies. The team is also exploring opportunities for further growth, fueled by the increasing number of attendees traveling to Vienna specifically for the festival, not just from across Austria but also from neighboring Germany. Hübner believes the concept has broader appeal. “It’s strange that there isn’t really anything comparable. Every city deserves to have some kind of feel good festival.”
The Feel Good Festival will take place from June 26th to 28th at the Sportcenter Donaucity in Vienna. Day tickets are priced at 89 euros, while weekend passes cost 129 euros. More information, including the full schedule and registration details, can be found at feelgood-festival.at.
Looking ahead, the team is focused on refining the festival experience and exploring potential expansion opportunities. The next confirmed step is a post-event analysis to gather feedback from attendees and sponsors, which will inform planning for the 2025 festival. What started as a simple idea – a healthier alternative to traditional music festivals – has evolved into a thriving community and a testament to the growing demand for wellness experiences.
What are your thoughts on the rise of wellness festivals? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below, and feel free to share this article with anyone who might be interested in attending the Feel Good Festival!
