The Chicago Austrian Ball
The Chicago Austrian Ball is an event celebrating Austrian culture, featuring traditional dances, elegant attire, music, and Viennese charm.
Time & Location
Feb 06, 2026, 6:00 PM – 11:59 PM
The Drake Hotel Gold Coast Ballroom, 140 E Walton Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
About the event
The Chicago Austrian Cultural Foundation requests the pleasure of your company at the 2026 Chicago Austrian Ball, where you can Experience Viennese Elegance.
The Vienna Opera Ball
The primary stage for the rich, the beautiful, and the ambitious of Vienna, the Opera Ball stands at the height of the Ball Season, which begins on the eleventh of November and concludes on Shrove Tuesday in February. Held on the Thursday before Shrove Tuesday, it is the most prominent event in a city that hosts approximately 800 formal balls each Season.
The first ball in the present Staatsoper building took place in 1877, followed by many throughout the final decades of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After the First World War, the tradition continued despite economic hardship. In 1935, the first official Vienna Opera Ball was organized, with proceeds supporting charity. Its success ensured its continuation. After the Second World War, the first Opera Ball of the Second Republic was held in 1956 and soon became an annual event.
The experience is famously opulent and accessible at various levels, with general tickets within reach while the most coveted boxes on the ground floor and upper tiers require annual patronage and significant financial commitment. Despite the cost, these exclusive boxes routinely sell out months in advance, cherished by businesses and individuals alike.
The Chicago Austrian Cultural Foundation is proud to bring the music and elegance of Vienna to The Drake Hotel.
Show your support by donating to the Chicago Austrian Cultural Foundation below.
Vienna is the world capital of music, and in 2026 we commemorate one of the biggest musical geniuses of all time: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. We celebrate his 270th birthday – and dance in Vienna and around the world.
Like almost nothing else, Mozart’s musical works embody features Vienna is admired for worldwide: a great joie de vivre, a distinctive attitude towards life, and an excellent quality of life.
These qualities are also at the heart of the Viennese ball tradition. For centuries, our ball events have been synonymous with magnificent celebrations and the typical Viennese zest for life that captivates audiences everywhere.
Immerse yourself in a waltz, enjoy a lively polka, listen to the musical variety of our orchestras, and admire the elegance of our ballrooms as they all reflect the joy for life that is integral to Vienna’s character and that we are happy to share with the world through our Viennese ball events.
Vienna is not only the world capital of music but also a city of togetherness and participation. Every ball event, whether it takes place in Vienna or in any other city in the world, is a commitment to this culture of openness, joyfulness, and harmony.
On this note, I wish all ball guests unforgettable moments, cheerful conversations, and the feeling of having experienced a piece of Vienna together – true to the motto “bring your joie de vivre and make friends for life”.
-Michael Ludwig
Mayor and Governor of Vienna
Registration Details
Each reservation provides:
• Admission to an elegant cocktail reception featuring a selection of hors d’oeuvres
• Reserved seating for a four-course dinner, thoughtfully presented with soup, salad, entrée, and a specially prepared Flaming Alaska dessert
• An evening of dance and music performed by the distinguished Anthony Kawalkowski Orchestra
• Access to preferred hotel accommodations and special valet parking rates for our guests
$250 per ticket, plus a $6.25 processing fee per ticket. Cash bar services will be available during the event
Guests are encouraged to select their seats, indicate who (if anyone) they would like to sit with, and choose their entrée online when making their reservations. A personalized entrée placard will be placed at each table setting for your convenience.
Reservations accepted until January 26, 2026 or until capacity is reached.
Attire
Formal evening attire is requested. Ladies are invited to wear elegant gowns.
Gentlemen are requested to wear white or black tie, with decorations as appropriate.
Exact Menu
FIRST COURSE - PRE-SET Drake Salad Endive, Tomato, Hearts of Palm, White French (French Passed) ~ ~ ~ SECOND COURSE
The Drake's Bookbinder Soup with an Individual Sherry Carafe ~ ~ ~ SERVED ENTRÉE'S FILET Herb-crusted Filet Mignon with Cabernet Reduction (on plate) Served with Potatoes Au Gratin, Asparagus Heirloom Carrots & Baby Tomatoes ~
POULTRY
Crispy Skin Chicken Breast
Served with Potatoes Au Gratin, Asparagus
Heirloom Carrots & Baby Tomatoes
~
SEAFOOD
Grilled Salmon
with Horseradish Sauce (on plate)
Served with Potatoes Au Gratin, Asparagus
Heirloom Carrots & Baby Tomatoes
~
VEGETARIAN
Roasted Mushroom and Tomato Strudel
Served in an Individual Purse
with Sauteed Spinach & Tomato Olive Concasse
DESSERT
Baked Alaska Flambe -" Show"
Servers to Parade into Gold Coast & Offer Chocolate or Strawberry Sauce
Room Reservations
A limited number of Deluxe King Rooms are offered at a special attendee rate of $129, available until January 7.
After January 7, or once the allocated inventory is filled, regular hotel rates will apply. Use booking code 902 when making reservations.
Guests are also welcome to contact 1-800-55-DRAKE to make a reservation.
Click here to reserve your room for this event.
Rates are quoted before taxes and overnight parking fees.
To secure the special room rate, guests are asked to use the dedicated reservation link provided on our website.
Please confirm check-out times, current tax rates, and any overnight parking fees when making your reservation.
Parking & Valet
Valet parking is available at a special rate of $35.00.
Vouchers must be presented at the time of payment and will be available at the event sign-in table.
Overnight parking is available at $82.00.
Payment Methods
Payment by credit card via the ticketing system below is preferred.
If paying by check, make checks payable to: Chicago Austrian Cultural Foundation
and mail to:
Chicago Austrian Ball
3023 N Clark St, Suite 121
Chicago, IL 60657
If paying by check, please provide a phone number so we may confirm your seating and entrée selection.
Upon arrival, guests will receive their table number at check in.
For additional information:
Brett Ihde — 773-273-6378
No tickets will be mailed.
Sponsorship Opportunities
The Chicago Austrian Ball proudly supports the mission of the Chicago Austrian Cultural Foundation. Sponsorships help preserve and celebrate Austrian culture while ensuring the continued success of this annual event. All sponsorship opportunities are recognition-based and do not alter standard ticket pricing.
Platinum Sponsor – $2,000+
Platinum Sponsors receive premier recognition in the printed event program under a dedicated sponsorship heading. This level offers elevated visibility and acknowledges a significant contribution to the Foundation’s mission. Platinum Sponsorships may be paired with separately purchased tickets or table reservations.
Gold Sponsor – $1,000
Gold Sponsors are recognized in the printed program and acknowledged for their support of the Chicago Austrian Ball. This level is ideal for individuals or organizations seeking meaningful visibility while supporting the Foundation’s cultural initiatives.
Silver Sponsor – $500
Silver Sponsors receive program recognition and are thanked for their contribution to the success of the event. This level offers an accessible way to support the Foundation while being publicly acknowledged during the Ball.
Table Sponsor (Imperial Table Reservation) – $2,500
Table Sponsors purchase a full table of ten seats at standard ticket pricing. This reservation includes coordinated table placement by the event team and guaranteed sponsorship recognition in the printed program. Table Sponsorships provide a shared guest experience while directly supporting the Foundation.
How to Sponsor
Sponsorships are handled directly to ensure clarity and a personalized experience. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or purchasing a Table Sponsorship, please contact us at: chicagoaustrianball@gmail.com OR 773-273-6378
Our team will be happy to walk you through the options and assist with your generous sponsorship.
Waltz & Grand March at the 2025 Chicago Austrian Ball
Cocktail Hour & Gold Coast Room Entrance at the 2025 Chicago Austrian Ball
Dinner & Ballroom Highlights at the 2025 Chicago Austrian Ball
We invite you to join our mailing list to receive select updates and announcements regarding future Chicago Austrian Ball events, please click here.
Schedule
1 hourCocktails and Hors d’oeuvres
1 hour 30 minutesDinner
$50
$500 Donation
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$50
$200 Donation
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$50
$100 Donation
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$50
Custom Donation
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Please consider a fully tax-deductible donation to the Chicago Austrian Cultural Foundation.
Tickets
Standard Ball Reservation
Each reservation provides: • One admission to an elegant cocktail reception featuring a selection of hors d’oeuvres • One reserved seating for a four-course dinner, thoughtfully presented with soup, salad, entrée, and a specially prepared Flaming Alaska dessert • An evening of dance and music performed by the distinguished Anthony Kawalkowski Orchestra • Access to preferred hotel accommodations and special valet parking rates for our guests
$250.00
+$6.25 ticket service fee
Sale ended