Fö N Festival brings alpine creativity and original perspectives to Innsbruck.
Innsbruck is defined by the Föhn — the powerful, warm Alpine wind that clears the sky, sharpens visibility, and shifts the entire mood of the valley within hours. Fö N Festival channels that exact energy: a storm of fresh ideas designed to clear out stagnation and spark bold creative momentum across the region.
From September 24 to 26, the former St. Bartlmä industrial site transforms into the main stage for Fö N Festival 2026 — gathering decision-makers, creators, and thinkers across the alpine arc to explore the future of original work, transformation, and regional growth.
The lineup drops straight into core challenges of business, art, and technology:
Francesca Ferlaino (Quantum Physicist & Scientist of the Year) — Exploring quantum research and the fundamental physical forces of our reality in the grand opening talk.
Harald Lesch (Astrophysicist, Author & TV Host) — Bringing his massive public reach and scientific perspective to the opening night's discourse on human curiosity and physics.
Rainer Bock (Award-winning Actor) — Bridging cinematic craft, narrative performance, and storytelling with cutting-edge science at the opening evening.
Michelle Scholz (Business Builder & Transformation Leader) — Delivering the keynote "The Age of Judgment: From Building to Deciding" on how AI is radically redefining creative work and strategic execution.
Jianping He (Graphic Designer, Artist & Publisher / hesign) — Sharing insights on visual language and paperworks as a serious cultural practice bridging European and Asian design traditions.
Clemens Ascher (Commercial & Fine Art Photographer) — Speaking on "From Idea to Execution" — exploring conceptual photography, visual narrative, and commercial creative production.
Markus Weithas (Designer & Typography Expert) — Leading the "Typowalk" through Innsbruck-Wilten to decode the visual and typographic language of the urban landscape.
Kurt Höretzeder (Founder, Fö N Festival & Studio Höretzeder) — Delivering an impulse on the future of regional creative industries and human-centric agency models.
Rather than locking everyone inside a traditional convention hall, the festival’s decentral program breaks out into the surrounding neighborhood, turning local landmarks into active spaces for hands-on discovery and spatial exploration:
Fö N_labs — Hands-on execution: Interactive workshops and studio deep dives held across local venues — including the historic Grassmayr Bell Foundry. These sessions focus on raw craft, text creation in the age of AI, masterclasses, and applied problem-solving rather than passive listening.
Fö N_walks — Spatial and visual exploration: Guided neighborhood tours and architectural walks designed to decode the urban landscape. Participants explore local creative hotspots, historical sites, and visual typography along the southern outskirts of Innsbruck to understand how space influences culture.
Fö N_spirits — Interdisciplinary interventions: Satellite pop-ups, choir visits, sound labs, material speed dating at Sanders Bookbindery, and unexpected performances embedded throughout local venues. They break up traditional panel formats to spark spontaneous dialogue — flowing into high-energy evening sets featuring Monobrother and Klebstoff.
