Vienna Festival: Milo Rau Invites Peter Thiel – and Speaks of Self-Censorship

A Structured Debate Format

The evening, titled "Armageddon and Antichrist? From Theology to Realpolitik," was intended to include expert counter-positions, defined topic blocks, and audience contributions. Rau wanted to confront Thiel, among other things, with ten historical examples of theocracies and ask why a religiously inspired entrepreneurial state should be different.

However, criticism of the invitation to the Palantir co-founder, who is considered a Trump advisor and advocate of libertarian and right-wing conservative positions, grew steadily. Festival participants threatened to cancel their appearances. The organizers spoke of an unacceptable weakening of the festival.

The democratic council of the Republic, a fictional body within the framework of the festival concept "Free Republic of Vienna," as well as consulted experts, had voted by a majority in favor of holding the Thiel debate. Rau emphasized that substantive decisions were solely the responsibility of the festival, not politics.

Political Pressure and Boycott

Vienna's City Councillor for Culture, Veronica Kaup-Hasler, had previously expressed her lack of understanding regarding the invitation in an interview with the daily newspaper "Der Standard." "The invitation of Peter Thiel is understandably causing great discontent among the population," she said. Rau admitted that the FPÖ could use such controversies to politically attack Kaup-Hasler.

Rau drew parallels to previous provocations by the festival, such as Christoph Schlingensief's "Ausländer-raus-Container" (Foreigners Out Container), which was stormed by leftists at the time. He warned: "Deplatforming has never worked. If it worked, the FPÖ and AfD would not be the strongest parties now."

Thiel himself reacted calmly to the cancellation. He had almost expected it, Rau reported. The billionaire compared the cancellation to a play by Antonin Artaud and his "Theater of Cruelty."

Thiel's Reaction and the Festival's Statement

The Vienna Festival has a statement that sets boundaries for invitations and excludes individuals who have come into conflict with the law or are expected to do so. Rau clarified that representatives of Hamas would not be invited under this statement.

Rau described the Vienna Festival as a decidedly left-wing festival and Peter Thiel as "perhaps the most powerful right-wing person on the planet." The controversy had exponentially increased the festival's perception and relevance – "150 percent the opposite" of harmful, Rau said.

The debate surrounding Thiel's invitation had made international waves. According to Rau, it was discussed as far as the USA. Three years ago, the artistic director said, the Vienna Festival had almost disappeared from public perception.

Freedom of Art or Self-Censorship?

The cancellation raises fundamental questions about freedom of art and how to deal with controversial voices in the cultural sector. While some welcome the decision as a necessary protection of the festival, others see it as a dangerous precedent of self-censorship.

In addition to political debates, the 2026 Vienna Festival program includes artistic interventions such as Milo Rau's controversial trampolines. A "Faith Tribunal" also took place over the weekend, addressing the dark sides of religion, colonialism, and capitalism, featuring testimonies from victims of the Iranian regime.

The Vienna Festival is financed by the City of Vienna. The cancellation of the Thiel evening occurred just under a week before the planned date. Rau left open whether and in what form the festival will offer similarly controversial debate formats in the future.