Allergenic burde forecast for the 2026 Salzburg Festival
From 17 July to 30 August, the Salzburg Festival transforms the city into a stage for more than 200,000 visitors. For the first time, the Salzburg Pollen Warning Service, on behalf of the Department of Health/Provincial Health Directorate and with the support of polleninformation.at, is providing a special event-specific pollen forecast for the festival season.
At present, grass pollen is the dominant factor, with levels sometimes reaching significant levels, particularly in the areas marked orange on the map. Summer ozone peaks and thunderstorms can further exacerbate symptoms, as they cause more allergens to be released into the air at short notice. Mowing work in the surrounding countryside also increases the concentration of fungal spores, which can be carried into the city when wind conditions are favourable.
A distinctive feature of Salzburg: the highest grass pollen concentrations usually do not occur until around 8.00 pm. This is due to the topography, which carries pollen into higher layers of the atmosphere during the day and returns it to the urban area in the evening. Festival-goers should therefore expect higher pollen levels, particularly after evening events, and carry their emergency medication with them if necessary. In addition to grasses, pollen from stingingnettles, goosefoot plants, meadowsweet, spirea, juniper and plantain is currently detectable, though it plays a minor role at present.
