Salzkammergut Woodturning Days
from October 9–11, 2026
at Hand.Werk.Haus Salzkammergut
Fri, Oct 9: 12 PM–8 PM
Sat, Oct 10: 9 AM–6 PM
Sun, Oct 11: 9 AM–3 PM

From October 9 to 11, 2026, the Hand.Werk.Haus Salzkammergut in Bad Goisern will transform into a vibrant place of exchange between craftsmanship, art, and the public. Under the title “Art of Turning”, international and regional top woodturners, regional craft businesses, young talents, and visitors come together to experience the craft of turning in its various facets.

The focus is on woodturning – but far beyond its traditional form. The symposium understands “turning” as a cultural principle: turning as movement, tradition, design, and cultural action. International guests such as Alain Mailland (France), Marco Bellini (Italy), and Stephan Feichtinger (Austria) present their woodturning art live alongside regional woodturners. The emerging objects can be experienced firsthand – from raw wood to the finished work of art.

The program is complemented by numerous top artisans from the master craft businesses of Hand.Werk.Haus Salzkammergut, as well as artists and craftspeople from the region. Highlights include turned jewelry and design objects (e.g., made from recycled skateboards), products from Mader Kreiselmanufaktur, and live demonstrations by woodturners and instrument makers from the Hallstatt HTL for Wood Technology.

The symposium takes place in the heart of the Salzkammergut – a UNESCO World Heritage region whose history has been shaped for over 7,000 years by salt, timber, and extraordinary craftsmanship. Finds of turned bowls date back to around 450 BC, carved bowls from 750–660 BC were discovered in Hallstatt, brine pipelines were built from wood for centuries, and to this day, musical instruments and everyday objects are crafted using traditional handwork.

Hand.Werk.Haus Salzkammergut connects this centuries-old culture with contemporary design and arts and crafts. The event aims to make craftsmanship visible as a living form of culture, promote intergenerational dialogue, and open up new perspectives for young people in creative and craft professions.

While work is carried out outdoors in the inner courtyard, master businesses present themselves inside the building. Around the fountain, MAGMA Tools invites visitors to exchange ideas about machinery and purchase high-quality tools, supporting the symposium as a partner with expert technical knowledge.

Art of Turning is thus much more than a demonstration of traditional techniques – it is a celebration of the craft of turning, creativity, and human connection.

Art of Turning deliberately goes beyond woodturning. A ceramic artist works on the potter's wheel, historical hand augers turn a tree trunk into a sculpture, a traditional Landler dance makes the theme of turning visible in movement, and artist talks create space for engagement between artists, craftspeople, and the audience.