Preparations for Upper Austria's KulturEXPO 2027 are gathering momentum. On the initiative of the Salzkammergut Tourism Association, representatives from the cultural, tourism and political sectors met in Bad Ischl on 12 October 2026 to coordinate the events planned across the Salzkammergut's World Heritage regions.

The meeting was attended by World Heritage Site Managers Bernd Paulowitz (UNESCO World Heritage Site Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape) and Cyril Dworsky (UNESCO World Heritage Site Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps), along with representatives of the Upper Austrian Directorate of Culture, the regional tourism organisation (LTO) and the Salzkammergut Tourism Association.

Almost all mayors of the World Heritage municipalities in the southern Salzkammergut around Hallstatt and the northern Salzkammergut around Lakes Attersee and Mondsee were also present.

The meeting focused on cultural events already scheduled or currently being developed as part of KulturEXPO 2027. The aim of this joint coordination effort is to avoid scheduling conflicts wherever possible, make the most of synergies and create a diverse, well-coordinated cultural programme.

This will provide both local residents and visitors interested in culture with numerous opportunities to discover the Salzkammergut's remarkable history, cultural heritage and vibrant cultural landscape. Particular emphasis is being placed on cooperation between the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each of which tells a different part of the region's thousands of years of cultural history.

The meeting in Bad Ischl marked an important step towards closer cooperation and coordination between the participating municipalities and institutions. Further coordination meetings are already planned.

Preparations are clearly gaining momentum, driven by the shared goal of showcasing the full diversity of the Salzkammergut's cultural heritage and bringing it to life as part of Upper Austria's KulturEXPO 2027.