Austria's 2026 ice cream season kicks off with charity and bold new flavors

On Wednesday morning, the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) officially launched the ice cream season 2026 in spring-like weather and also presented the ice cream of the year.

The venue for the opening of the ice cream season 2026 was the family-run ice cream parlor Maß in Vienna-Ottakring. There, both the Austrian and the European ice cream of the year can be tasted. Among the Austrian ice cream makers, the flavor "Cassata" won. This flavor is inspired by the southern Italian cake "Cassata siciliana" and uses candied fruits.

Positive Start to Ice Cream Season 2026

"It is an ice cream based on Ricotta, Fior di Latte, or Panna. Candied fruits like lemon or orange are, of course, a must. And all together, it makes the Cassata ice cream," said Andrew Nussbaumer, WKÖ spokesperson for Austrian ice cream parlor operators. The ice cream is also open to interpretation by the ice cream makers, offering incredibly many possibilities. 415 ice cream parlors are registered with the chamber, 175 of them in Vienna. They were called to vote on the ice cream of the year, with about a dozen flavors to choose from. Basically, Austrians are still fans of classic ice creams like chocolate or stracciatella, but in recent years, vegan flavors or those with special ingredients like cookies have increasingly found their way into the cone.

Nussbaumer expressed optimism about the economic development, such as decreased energy costs. This has made the future more predictable for ice cream makers. "They should also earn something, not just make ice cream," he said. Cones and especially their contents tend to be more expensive in urban centers and tourist regions, but the prices per scoop have generally not been increased or only moderately. "The artisanal ice cream makers score with daily fresh production, short ingredient lists, and as regional products as possible."

"Melody" is European Ice Cream of the Year

And Austria was also allowed to have a say in the selection of the European ice cream of the year, said Luca Alberti, spokesperson for the Italian ice cream parlor operators in Austria, who bear the melodious association name "Associazione Gelatieri Italiani in Austria." The association is based - where else - in the Minoritenkirche in Vienna. There, they met in the fall and set the direction for a new ice cream flavor. The decision then fell on the creation "Melody" by the Spaniard Juanma Guerrero. The ice cream has a milk-ricotta base, with orange sauce and pistachios added.

For the second time now, the ice cream season was opened on the outskirts of Ottakring, which particularly pleased Margit Maß. Her family has been making ice cream since 1969. Over 25 years ago, Maß took over the business from her parents. Overall, the ice cream flavors have become less sugary, and three to four new flavors are added each season, she concluded. She hoped that prices would stabilize. The government must counteract inflation, said Ottakring district leader Stefanie Lamp (SPÖ). "For some, ice cream is a staple food," she said, referring to her children. The Maß ice cream parlor is an institution in the neighborhood. "It is an important meeting place for many people," she explained.

6,300 Euros Donated to Children's Cancer Research

This year, too, the WKÖ presented a donation check to the children's cancer research of the St. Anna Children's Hospital, amounting to 6,270 euros in 2025. According to the WKÖ, ice cream makers have already donated around 150,000 euros in total. "We really thank you very much for also thinking of children who are not doing so well and trusting us as research," said Lisa Kernegger from the St. Anna Children's Hospital. "The chances of recovery have increased significantly in the last 40 years. However, of course, every child who dies of cancer is one too many, and that's why we continue to research," she added.