The Province of Upper Austria has placed CultureEXPO 2027 under the theme World Heritage – Cultural Heritage in Upper Austria. In addition to the prehistoric pile dwellings, which will receive special attention, all other World Heritage Sites are also invited to submit project ideas.

Together with the municipalities of the World Heritage Site, we warmly invite you to share your innovative ideas and concepts for this CultureEXPO 2027 with us by October 30, 2025.
(Phone: +43 660 4220247 | E-mail: buero@welterbe-salzkammergut.at)

For the World Heritage Site Cultural Landscape Hallstatt–Dachstein / Salzkammergut, 2027 will be a particularly special year, marking several important anniversaries:

• 150 years of passenger rail transport to the Salzkammergut (since October 23, 1877)
• 100 years of cooperation between Salinen Austria and the Natural History Museum Vienna
• 30 years of World Heritage status (since December 6, 1997)

We are looking for creative contributions that reflect the diversity and richness of our cultural landscape and inspire both residents and visitors in unique ways.

There are currently no specific funding guidelines, which is why we encourage submissions of projects at different scales. Thematic frameworks are also kept broad. It may be particularly meaningful to integrate existing or already planned events in the Salzkammergut into the CultureEXPO 2027 and to use the expanded communication platform.

At this stage, we are primarily collecting ideas. For each proposal, please provide a short description of up to 250 words.

Examples of possible projects:

• A train journey on October 30, 2027, using a historic train set that stops at every station throughout the Salzkammergut.
• Improved signage and interpretation of World Heritage features in each community, while simplifying the existing “signage jungle.”
• Local heritage stations highlighting unique aspects of each town (e.g., the whetstone tradition in Gosau).
• Reviving craft traditions through mobile or interactive formats.
• A “World Heritage Regatta” with traditional flat-bottomed boats (Plätten) on Lake Hallstatt, making historical transport routes visible again.
• A special exhibition at the Hallstatt World Heritage Museum, which could later travel to other World Heritage Sites.
• School projects, community activities, and more.

Many of these topics, events, and initiatives already exist — CultureEXPO 2027 offers an opportunity to revise, enhance, and present them in a new light. We also welcome suggestions on how existing projects could be improved or better communicated.

We look forward to your inspiring ideas and creative proposals!