Helene Fischer opens the 2026 winter season with concert at the Planai Stadium in Schladming

Helene Fischer and her 360-degree tour

Helene Fischer is coming to Styria after her stadium tour in summer 2026 with her band. The singer is currently on tour with a spectacular 360-degree stage show and has been one of the most successful live acts in the German-speaking world for years. At the Planai Stadium she aims to present her biggest hits.

Organizer Klaus Leutgeb expressed his delight at signing the artist: "Ich freue mich riesig, dass Helene Fischer nach ihrer großen 360°-Stadiontour noch einen drauflegt und zum Jahresabschluss noch ein Konzert bei uns in Österreich spielt."

Voices from the organizer region

The management of the Tourism region also sees the booking as evidence of the special appeal of the format. The region emphasizes that the concert offers an experience that fans can hardly experience as up close and personal anywhere else. The organizers put it this way: "Unsere Gäste erleben Helene Fischer hier so nah und persönlich wie kaum irgendwo sonst – genau solche einzigartigen Konzertmomente machen das Ski-Opening aus."

The singer herself also addressed her fans directly. She announced: "Ich freue mich schon sehr darauf, gemeinsam mit euch den Winter in Schladming zu eröffnen." With the address she underscores the communal character of the event, where winter sports, music and tourism marketing come together.

Tradition with international and national stars

The Ski-Opening in Schladming has made a name for itself over the years as a stage for international and national stars. In earlier editions artists such as the Backstreet Boys, Robbie Williams and Bryan Adams performed, among others. With Helene Fischer the event continues this series and once again brings one of the most crowd-pulling German-speaking acts to the stage.

Tickets for the concert are available from November 3. The organizers announced the presale start a few days after the announcement of the headliner. Interested parties can purchase the tickets through the usual presale outlets. Specific price categories were not named in the announcement.

The exact schedule of the weekend has not yet been fully published. The Ski-Opening usually begins with a warm-up on Thursday, followed by the big concert evening on Friday and a ski day on Saturday, on which winter sports enthusiasts test the slopes of the 4-Berge Skischaukel together with the performing artists.

Economic significance for the region

For the Schladming-Dachstein region the event is of great economic significance. Thousands of visitors travel to the season opener every year, hotels and guesthouses are fully booked around the weekend. The media attention through TV broadcasts and livestreams amplifies the reach of tourism marketing.

Helene Fischer has counted for years among the best-selling live artists in the German-speaking world. With stadium-filling tours, music awards and a permanent presence in the media she has established herself as a fixed star of German Schlager. The appearance in Schladming is part of a series of major open-air concerts.

The Planai Stadium, actually known as the finish arena of the famous night slalom classics of alpine ski racing, is transformed into a stage for the concert. The venue offers space for several tens of thousands of spectators and is considered one of the most striking event locations in the region.

Presale and organization

With the programming of Helene Fischer the event is responding to the trend that ski openings in the Alps are increasingly dominated by stars from the German-speaking world. While in earlier years international pop acts were in the foreground, the organizers are now placing greater emphasis on domestic drawing power.

For fans the appearance represents a comparatively rare opportunity to experience Helene Fischer in an Alpine setting. The singer's concerts otherwise take place predominantly in large arenas and stadiums. The intimate atmosphere in the Planai Stadium is intended to make the appeal of the evening.

The announcement was made about four and a half months before the concert date. This gives fans enough time to plan travel and accommodation. The organizers expect similarly high demand as in previous years, when tickets sold out within a short time.

Outlook for the weekend

Overall, the signing of Helene Fischer underscores the ambition of the Ski-Opening to position itself as one of the leading winter season events in the Alpine region. The combination of winter sports, major concert and regional tourism marketing has established itself as a successful model.