Gery Keszler postpones "All Senses Gala" in Salzburg to 2027

The gala thrives on "von künstlerischer Präzision, starken Partnern, internationaler Strahlkraft und einer Umsetzung auf höchstem Niveau". These standards could no longer be upheld under the given time pressure, the ball organizer continued. "Die künstlerische Idee bleibt bestehen" – this is explicitly not a final cancellation, but a postponement.

Context: Successor to the amfAR Gala

In the previous year, Keszler had hosted the renowned amfAR Gala during the Salzburg Festival, an international benefit event in support of AIDS research. With the "All Senses Gala," he wanted to build on this tradition and establish his own format in Salzburg. The planned date in August fell during the peak phase of the festival summer, when cultural celebrities from around the world come to the city.

With the postponement to 2027, the project gains the necessary preparation time, according to Keszler. "Die Verlegung gibt uns nun die Möglichkeit, das Format für 2027 mit der notwendigen Sorgfalt, Konsequenz und Qualität weiterzuentwickeln und in jener Form umzusetzen, die unserem Anspruch und auch dem Standort Salzburg entspricht." The City of Salzburg was reportedly involved in the planning, though official statements from the municipality were not initially available.

"Wir haben uns daher bewusst dagegen entschieden, das Projekt unter Zeitdruck zu verkleinern oder in seiner Qualität zu kompromittieren." With this justification, Keszler also refuted speculation that financial or programmatic problems might be behind the postponement. The postponement is to be understood as a "Verschiebung um ein Jahr," not as a discontinuation of the project.

Outlook: New Date in 2027 Open

The "All Senses Gala" was to take place in August 2026 during the Festival, combining artistic performances with a charitable purpose as its concept. Regarding the exact beneficiary – which organizations or projects were to be supported with the proceeds – Keszler had only made hints in recent months. With the new time frame, the circle of supported initiatives could also become more concrete.

Among the possible partners were, according to earlier reports, international cultural institutions and sponsors from the fields of fashion, art, and philanthropy. Which of these partners will renew their commitments for the 2027 edition is currently open. The organizers emphasized, however, that contacts had been intensively cultivated in recent weeks.

The decision comes at a phase in which Salzburg, as a festival city, is increasingly relying on its own major formats. With the postponement of the "All Senses Gala," the 2026 program loses at least one prominent benefit event that had been intended to generate attention parallel to the festival premieres. For 2027, Keszler announced a revised concept.

The date for the 2027 edition has not yet been set. It is expected that the gala will again take place in the summer months around the Salzburg Festival, as this corresponds to the original framework conditions. As soon as a concrete date is named, the public will be informed, according to the statement.

With the postponement, those responsible are responding to a competitive disadvantage frequently discussed in the events industry: too short lead times jeopardize the quality and thus the appeal of major events, Keszler argues. In this respect, the step is consistent with his own aspiration to act "auf höchstem Niveau."