Summer-Opening Of Schladming-Dachstein Announced For 3.-7. June 2026
Klaus Leutgeb and the Leutgeb Entertainment Group are bringing the next big WOW moment to Styria: After a winter that took Schladming to new heights, it was clear: The successful concept needed to be expanded. With five acts and five musical genres, Klaus Leutgeb is creating a summer opening that will break all boundaries. The very first Schladming-Dachstein Summer Opening will take place from June 3rd to 7th, 2026 at the Planai Stadium! Five days, five artists, five musical genres – a new event format that will elevate the start of summer in the Alps to a whole new level of entertainment. Tickets go on sale on December 8th, 2025!
The stage will feature top-class artists who have made music history over decades: Scooter (June 3), Sarah Connor (June 4), Roland Kaiser (June 5), Rainhard Fendrich (June 6) and Plácido Domingo (June 7) . No two days are alike – and every evening brings new emotions, new superlatives and new impulses for the region.
YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION FOR MAJOR EVENTS
Schladming-Dachstein is setting the course for the future – all year round: Following the record-breaking success of the 2025 Ski Opening, the Leutgeb Entertainment Group is now presenting the next major chapter for the region: the new Summer Opening Schladming-Dachstein , which will take place from June 3rd to 7th, 2026. Together, the Winter and Summer Openings will send a strong signal for the entire Styria region and position it as a leading year-round destination for major international music events .
STRONG PARTNERSHIP
The partnership between organizer Leutgeb Entertainment Group, the Schladming-Dachstein tourism association, the 4-mountain ski area Schladming (Hauser-Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen, Reiteralm) and Styria is unparalleled, because all those involved embody the Olympic team spirit: with an eye for the big picture; thinking outside the box and focusing on maximum success for all involved.
VISION BY KLAUS LEUTGEB
The clear vision for the future can be attributed to mastermind and organizer Klaus Leutgeb, who is setting new standards once again with the Summer Opening.
“We have achieved our goal of establishing the most successful ski opening in Austria. Now, with the summer opening, we want to double the visitor numbers and surpass the success of the winter season once again. After a winter that exceeded all expectations, we are now tackling the summer season.” said Klaus Leutgeb, Managing Director Leutgeb Entertainment Group
CLEAR GOALS FOR THE REGION 100,000 GUESTS PER YEAR
What was already impressively demonstrated in winter will now be extended to the whole year.
The clear vision of organizer Klaus Leutgeb and the Schladming-Dachstein tourism association is to attract 100,000 guests per year to the Schladming-Dachstein tourism region through joint events in the long term .
These visitors come from a high-quality, tourism-oriented target group , spend several nights in the region, and generate a massive economic boost. The two events together result in over one hundred thousand additional overnight stays , benefiting the entire regional value chain – be it hotels, restaurants, mountain railways, or infrastructure partners.
ADVERTISING VALUE & IMAGE GAIN
The ski opening already generates over €3 million in advertising value annually – with the new summer opening, this figure is expected to rise to over €6 million in the future . This represents a completely new dimension for the region's image and visibility. The advertising effect of the high-quality media coverage far surpasses that of traditional advertising – and would otherwise be virtually impossible for the region to finance on this scale. With these two major events in summer and winter, Schladming-Dachstein is now guaranteed continuous media exposure.
"Everyone benefits from this. It's a real win-win situation for the region and the entire Styria." added Klaus Leutgeb, Managing Director Leutgeb Entertainment Group
CONTINUITY LEADS TO SUCCESS
The frequently asked question "Who pays for all this?" has a clear answer – and is also a crucial factor for success. In the local event and tourism industry, it is common practice for tourism regions to act as organizers of their own winter openings, thus bearing the costs and risks themselves – with manageable (media) reach.
Not so in Schladming: here, the region relies entirely on the organizer Klaus Leutgeb and the Leutgeb Entertainment Group, which bears 100% of the economic and legal risk for the events . Klaus Leutgeb invests and finances approximately 15-18 million euros for the summer and winter seasons, with the tourism region contributing through a clearly defined advertising cost subsidy. This investment is repaid up to 20 times over in the form of economic, media, and tourism-related added value.
Only through Klaus Leutgeb's high level of risk-taking can concerts of this magnitude be brought to Schladming – and the region and the state of Styria benefit exponentially as a result. This model is unique in Austria and is based entirely on the entrepreneurial courage, experience, and international network of Klaus Leutgeb and the Leutgeb Entertainment Group. A win-win situation for all involved and a fruitful collaboration that is second to none!
SUMMARY
The Schladming-Dachstein ski opening has achieved unprecedented success with three sold-out Backstreet Boys concerts. More than 50,000 people are expected to fill the Planai Stadium over three days on the weekend of December 5-7, 2025. With the addition of a summer opening in June, Schladming-Dachstein is developing a year-round concept that will set standards across Austria and attract over 100,000 visitors to the region annually. Economically strong, significant for tourism, with high media visibility, and of great social value.
It's a unique partnership that demonstrates how bold visions, a sustainable strategy, and regional cooperation can achieve great things. A win-win situation for Schladming-Dachstein, Styria – and everyone who is part of this success story.
