Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig of the SPÖ announced on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, that the city has canceled the proposed Kultur-Euro. The plan, first reported by KURIER the previous Tuesday, would have applied a 12.5 percent tax to all event tickets sold.
The tax was designed to bolster the city's culture budget, with projections suggesting it would generate a three-digit million euro amount. This proposal followed the historical abolition of two previous culture-related levies that were once used in Vienna.
The cancellation marks a shift in fiscal policy for the city's entertainment sector. While the levy promised significant funding for local arts, the administration has decided not to move forward with the 12.5 percent surcharge on the public's ticket costs.