Werzers Season Opening 2026

Harold Faltermeyer achieved worldwide fame with his iconic "Axel F" theme from Beverly Hills Cop. The German-born composer shaped the film music of the 1980s with his soundtracks and collaborated with greats such as Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer – he is considered one of the most influential figures in electronic film music.

Today, more than ever, Lake Wörthersee presents itself as a stage for joie de vivre, enjoyment, and activity – a place that delights guests from Austria and abroad all year round. The Werzers businesses, with their year-round offerings, also set a strong example of quality and continuity in the region. The grand season opening at Lake Wörthersee not only marks the start of the warmer months but also underscores once again the lake's role as Austria's premier destination for gourmets and active travelers.

“We wanted to send a signal of life for Lake Wörthersee and especially for the Werzers businesses,” explains Hans-Werner Frömmel, describing the intention behind his and Rikki Vogel’s idea for the Werzers season opening. Together they developed a concept that brought the Lake Wörthersee holiday destination back into the media spotlight – with the clear goal of initiating a sustainable tourism boom for the entire region.

As is often the case with success stories, Werzers' Season Opening has steadily evolved over the years. Within 20 years, a manageable opening event has transformed into a spectacular occasion, once again attracting over 500 guests this year. For the fourth time, host Hans-Werner Frömmel enlisted the help of PR professional, manager, and author Clemens Trischler.

German actresses Maren Gilzer and Mariella Ahrens, star astrologer Gerda Rogers, painter and presenter Manfred Bockelmann, Eurovision Song Contest legend Katja Ebstein, ski legend Fritz Strobl, former federal ministers Claudia Bandion-Ortner and Maria Rauch-Kallat, cabaret artist Andrea Händler, former football player Walter Schachner, singers Jazz Gitti, Kayla Krystin, Andy Lee Lang, Nik P., Eric Papilaya, Iva Schell, Julia Steen and Waterloo, actors Julia Cencig and Michael Steinocher, presenters Sylvia Graf and Claudia Stöckl, the pop duo Simone Stelzer and Charly Brunner, director Otto Retzer, the Entrepreneurs Brigitte Annerl and Alfred Riedl, former figure skater Claudia Kristofics-Binder, award-winning chef Hubert Wallner, fitness expert Barbara Klein, painter Maria Lahr, entrepreneur Heribert Kasper, and Jörg Haider's widow, Claudia Haider, ensured a high-caliber guest list.

A fixed point of the Werzers season opening since 2011 is the presentation of the "Golden Werzers Award." Year after year, Carinthian personalities who act as ambassadors for the region beyond its borders are honored. In 2016, this award went to Harold Faltermeyer, who thus joins a list of prominent names such as Franz Klammer, Waltraut Haas, Hannes Jagerhofer, and Uschi Glas.

Alfons Haider led the audience through the evening with charm, wit and his usual sense of the right tone.

Of course, the annual raffle was also a must. For €20 per ticket, participants not only had the chance to win attractive prizes – including a week's holiday for two at the Werzers Resort Hotel Pörtschach or tickets to the Mörbisch Lake Festival – but also supported the Bad Saag and Pörtschach water rescue service by purchasing a defibrillator and securing the station's location to ensure the safety of visitors at the lake around the clock.

The celebrations continued until the early hours of the morning. As every year, the traditional culinary finale was the legendary scrambled eggs made from 150 organic eggs, which host Hans-Werner Frömmel personally prepared at four o'clock in the morning.