Coffee houses and grand ideas.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Vienna, Austria — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: September 14, 2026
Peter Wohlleben · Natural History Museum Vienna — Environmental Lecture · September 15, 2026
Forest ecologist Peter Wohlleben examines biodiversity in the Alpine region, highlighting human impacts and conservation strategies. He will discuss practical steps for policymaker…
Paul Krugman · University of Vienna · September 15, 2026
Nobel laureate Paul Krugman addresses inflation, inequality, and fiscal policy lessons learned since the pandemic. He will engage with students and the public in a follow-up discus…
Timothy D. Snyder · Wiener Vorlesungen (City of Vienna public lecture series) · September 15, 2026
Historian Timothy D. Snyder examines the resilience of democracy in Europe in the face of rising authoritarian trends. He will outline historical parallels and practical steps civi…
Timothy Snyder · Wiener Vorlesungen (City of Vienna Public Lecture Series) · September 15, 2026
Historian Timothy Snyder discusses the historical roots of contemporary authoritarianism and the politics of memory in Central and Eastern Europe. He will reflect on challenges to …
Saskia Sassen · University of Vienna — Public Lecture Series · September 15, 2026
Sociologist Saskia Sassen discusses the shifting role of global cities in the twenty-first century and their impact on inequality, migration, and governance. The lecture will offer…
Naomi Klein · University of Vienna · September 15, 2026
Author and activist Naomi Klein addresses the political and economic obstacles to effective climate action and argues for strategies that link justice with ecological sustainabilit…
Yuval Noah Harari · Wiener Vorlesungen (City of Vienna) · September 15, 2026
Yuval Noah Harari discusses how historical narratives shape political choices and collective identity in a rapidly changing world. The lecture will explore the responsibilities of …
Timothy Snyder · University of Vienna (Großer Festsaal) · September 15, 2026
Historian Timothy Snyder examines the political and cultural conditions that enable authoritarianism, drawing on recent European developments. He will take audience questions follo…
Timothy Snyder · University of Vienna · September 15, 2026
Historian Timothy Snyder examines the resilience of democratic institutions in Europe and the threats posed by authoritarian tactics. The lecture will be followed by a panel discus…
Timothy Snyder · University of Vienna (public lecture) · September 15, 2026
Historian Timothy Snyder addresses historical patterns of authoritarianism and what they reveal about contemporary threats to democracy. The lecture will connect archival history t…
Margaret Atwood · Burgtheater · September 15, 2026
Renowned novelist Margaret Atwood reads from her latest work and discusses speculative fiction as a tool for political critique. The session includes conversation about literature'…
Mary Beard · Kunsthistorisches Museum · September 15, 2026
Historian Mary Beard explores how classical antiquity continues to shape modern museum narratives and public imagination. The talk will include reflections on curating ancient obje…
Lisa Feldman Barrett · University of Vienna (Great Hall) · September 15, 2026
Psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett presents recent findings on emotion, prediction, and how the brain constructs narrative experience. She will discuss implications for culture, edu…
Yuval Noah Harari · Wiener Vorlesungen (Wiener Rathaus) · September 15, 2026
Historian and public intellectual Yuval Noah Harari explores how data, networks and artificial intelligence shape collective decision-making. The talk will outline risks and opport…
Mary Beard · University of Vienna — Festsaal · September 15, 2026
Mary Beard discusses why classical antiquity still matters for debates about democracy and public life. The talk will include time for audience questions and a brief book-signing.
Yuval Noah Harari · Wiener Vorlesungen (City of Vienna) · September 15, 2026
Historian Yuval Noah Harari discusses the societal implications of artificial intelligence, from labor markets to personal identity. His lecture will consider historical perspectiv…
Timothy D. Snyder · Wiener Vorlesungen (City of Vienna) · September 15, 2026
Historian Timothy D. Snyder discusses collective memory, historical responsibility, and the politics of remembrance in contemporary Europe. The lecture situates present challenges …
Simon Schama · Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien · September 15, 2026
Art historian Simon Schama traces how visual culture constructs political narratives across Europe from the Renaissance to the present. The talk will be followed by a guided discus…
Timothy Snyder · Wiener Vorlesungen — City of Vienna public lecture series · September 15, 2026
Timothy Snyder examines how historical memory is contested in contemporary European politics and the risks to democratic institutions. The lecture connects archival practices, publ…
Mariana Mazzucato · University of Vienna — Public Lecture Series · September 15, 2026
Mariana Mazzucato outlines strategies for mission-driven public policy to accelerate decarbonisation and equitable innovation. She will engage with policy scholars and students abo…