Day of the Medical University of Vienna 2026

An annual memorial service for the university's founder has been part of the academic calendar of the University of Vienna since 1396, whose founding member was the Faculty of Medicine, the predecessor of the Medical University of Vienna. The laying of wreaths at the cenotaph of Rudolf IV by the rectors has been taking place since the middle of the 20th century.

On this day, students at MedUni Vienna will have the opportunity to watch a live stream of surgery from the operating theatre. The individual steps of the operation will be moderated and explained by experts. The surgical specialty will be announced shortly.

12 March marks not only the anniversary of the university's founding, but also the devastating annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. A memorial service in front of the Memorial Against Forgetting in front of the Rectorate Building is a fixed item on the agenda every year on Medical University of Vienna Day.

The 2026 university lecture will be given by British historian Richard Cockett. Based on his book ‘Vienna: How the City of Ideas Created the Modern World’, he will talk about Vienna's contribution to the intellectual and cultural achievements of the Western world in the 20th century.

Richard Cockett is a British historian, journalist and author. He is currently senior editor at the business and news magazine The Economist and a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University. He previously lectured in history and politics at the University of London. He has also worked as a correspondent in Mexico, Central America, Africa and Southeast Asia. He has drawn on these experiences in several books on British and world history. Cockett was also a visiting professor of politics and history at the Royal Holloway Institute of the University of London.

Every year, the MedUni Alumni Club plays a key role in organising the Medical University of Vienna Day. As part of the ‘Life Paths’ series, personalities from various medical fields are introduced and talk about their careers and experiences.

MedUni Vienna invites you to the big MedUni Vienna Party on the occasion of the Medical University of Vienna Day. All employees, students, graduates and friends are invited to celebrate MedUni Vienna on this evening.

The University Library of MedUni Vienna is offering free tours of the historic Josephinian Library in the Josephinum. The tour of the Josephinian Library lasts 60 minutes and includes a presentation of selected highlights from the library's collections spanning six centuries.