Donauinselfest Review: 17 Arrests and 200 Charges in Peaceful Event

The officers also noted that "größere sicherheitspolizeiliche Herausforderungen ausblieben oder frühzeitig erkannt und bewältigt werden konnten". "Dementsprechend konnten polizeiliche Maßnahmen rasch und professionell gesetzt werden," police added. Overall, officers had to provide assistance 740 times across the three days, and 95 people were taken to a hospital.

Arrests and Charges in Detail

The exact visitor count was not officially specified. "Es ist deshalb schwer, eine Zahl zu nennen," the project management explained. They would "wenn dann eher mit Besuchen" calculate. The final review from the organizer is expected at a later date.

According to police, the arrests showed a broad distribution: Six individuals were arrested under the Code of Criminal Procedure, including for resistance against state authority and robbery. Five arrests were made under the Administrative Penalties Act, and another six under the Aliens' Police Act.

In addition to the 200 charges—covering criminal, administrative, and traffic offenses—62 individuals were removed from the premises under the Vienna Event Act. This, police said, reflected a consistent response to visitors who drew attention through aggressive behavior.

Deployment of Emergency Services

Among the partner organizations was the Samariterbund, which according to the organizer had around 250 paramedics on site each day. The Vienna Professional Rescue Service and the Vienna Professional Fire Brigade were also deployed. During the concert evenings, particularly on Friday and Saturday, police patrols were out around the Donauinsel.

Already on Friday evening, as Austrian musician Zartmann was playing on the main stage, police officers had to pull a heavily intoxicated man out of the crowd. On Saturday, the sirens of several emergency vehicles wailed as visitors made their way home near the U6 station Neue Donau.

Outlook on 2027

Overall, police spoke of a "friedlichen und sicheren" major event. According to the project management, the next Donauinselfest is planned to take place in its usual form—one week before the end of the school term, specifically starting June 25, 2027.

Police spokespersons emphasized that police presence had deliberately been kept high in order to prevent escalations at an early stage. "Wir rechnen wenn dann eher mit Besuchen," the project management had stated in the lead-up—a nod to higher footfall rather than higher willingness to use violence.

During the three festival days, there were repeated minor medical emergencies, predominantly due to alcohol consumption and the summer temperatures. Emergency services treated those affected largely on site, and 95 individuals were taken to a hospital for further assessment, according to police.

Vienna police announced that insights from this year's deployment would be incorporated into planning for the coming year. The proven concept would be continued and individual processes further optimized, according to the press release.