The ball season runs during Carnival from 11 November to Shrove Tuesday in February, although others are scheduled throughout the year.
Traditional balls such as the Vienna Opera Ball open with debutantes performing a polonaise, followed by a choreographed waltz such as the viennese waltz.
[2] Traditional ball etiquette also involves the use of dance cards and presentation of "Damenspenden", or spending gifts, to the young women attending the ball.
[3] In 2018, the Vienna Chamber of Commerce estimated over 500,000 people would attend a ball that season and spend €139,000,000 on the events.
The Vienna Ball of Sciences was founded in 2015 as an alternative to the Academics’ Ball, which was sponsored by the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria and is frequently protested.