Schladming-Dachstein looks back on a historic concert weekend: Three sold-out Backstreet Boys shows transformed the Planai Stadium into an international music arena from December 5th to 7th, 2025 – attracting a total of 50,000 visitors from 61 countries. A clear testament to the extraordinary appeal of this ski season opening.
It was clear from the very first evening that this concert series would set new standards, as the Backstreet Boys performed their greatest hits and were in excellent spirits. From "I Want It That Way" to "Everybody," the stadium became a choir – carried along by tens of thousands of fans from all over the world. The guests had traveled from a total of 61 countries, 811% were female, and the average age was 37.1 years.
ADDED VALUE & BOOST FOR THE START OF THE SEASON
With 250 accredited media representatives from Austria and abroad, the ski opening once again achieved exceptional media impact. Since the two Robbie Williams concerts (2023) and the Grand Festival with Bryan Adams, Sting, and Simply Red (2024), the Schladming-Dachstein region has established itself as a top destination for major events. According to United Synergies, the advertising value in 2023 was already well over €3 million – this year, the three-day international media coverage clearly surpassed that figure. The event also boasts impressive economic results: last year, overnight stays increased by almost 27 percent compared to 2023. Many guests stayed three nights or longer – and this trend is on the rise. A value creation analysis by the Economix Institute for the Robbie Williams concert demonstrates the scale of such major events for the region: €7.9 million in added value and €11 million in direct stimulus for businesses in Styria. The 2025 ski opening will continue this economic success and sustainably strengthen the hotel, restaurant, retail, mountain railway and numerous service industries.
CELEBRITY LINEUP
The Backstreet Boys naturally caused a star-studded frenzy at the ski opening – Oliver Pocher, Nino Ochsenknecht, Paul Pizzera, Melissa Naschenweng, and Chris Steger all made an appearance at the Planai Stadium. The (winter) sports scene was also prominently represented: Thomas Muster, Nicole Trimmel, Michaela Dorfmeister, Andreas Goldberger, Reinfried Herbst, and Thomas Morgenstern, as well as Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) President Roswitha Stadlober, were among the guests at the ski opening – as were political figures, including State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner, Governor Mario Kunasek, and Governor Caroline Edtstadler. On Friday, DJ Ötzi delighted fans with a surprise performance.
WITH MOMENTUM TOWARDS SUMMER
Although it's only the beginning of the winter season, organizer Klaus Leutgeb is already kicking off the next series of events with the Schladming-Dachstein region and the Schladming 4-mountain ski area (Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen, and Reiteralm) – with ticket sales for the Schladming-Dachstein Summer Opening featuring Scooter (June 3, 2026), Sarah Connor (June 4, 2026), Roland Kaiser (June 5, 2026), Rainhard Fendrich (June 6, 2026), and Plácido Domingo (June 7, 2026). You'll need to be quick – tickets are available at [website/link missing]. www.oeticket.com.
CONCLUSION
Three concerts, 50,000 guests, international attention and an economic boost that extends far beyond the weekend: The Schladming-Dachstein Ski Opening has once again impressively demonstrated why it is one of Austria's most successful music events – and with the new Summer Opening, the next milestone on the way to becoming a year-round event destination is already underway.
