Urban Art Festival Styria: The Most Important Facts at a Glance

Written by: Hannes Wagner, 19.06.2025

From 2019 until 2024 the Urban Art Festival Styria was held at STUWO Student City Graz. During these years the dormitory was transformed into a unique art space, both inside and out. You will hardly find a wall left untouched by the creative designs. 

So for this year, new locations had to be sought out and found for the festival. But the STUWO Student City Graz remains a very special place for students, as the many artworks created during the festival years are here to stay, turning the dorm into an open museum of urban creativity.  

Since 2025 on the Urban Art Festival has been held at new, exciting locations, including Fladnitz on the Teichalm, St. Ruprecht and Graz City. From 1st until 3rd of August, artists from all over Europe are going to come together in Styria once again.

Table Of Contents:

Urban Art Festival Styria at STUWO Graz: A Retrospective (2019–2024) 

Anyone who lives in STUWO Student City Graz knows that this dormitory is way more than just a place to sleep and study. Through the Urban Art Festival, between 2019 and 2024, it has been transformed into a lively art space.

This was made possible in part thanks to Christa Lorenz, who, during her time as residence manager, had the idea to offer the dormitory as a festival venue. It’s thanks to her dedication that the building was transformed into a unique work of art.

With street art, graffiti, jams, exhibitions, a huge public art gallery, workshops, talks, sound and light installations, and live concerts by international artists and groups, the UAFS aims to make art accessible to everyone and to highlight current trends in the scene. The student residence provided the perfect stage for this: a young audience, an open atmosphere, creative minds, and people from all over the world under one roof.

And because so many creative and motivated students are living there, the festival became a space for encounter and participation every year. Especially the in-house workshops and events invited everyone to not only watch but also participate. Even today, the STUWO Student City still radiates creative energy.

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The Student Accommodation as an Art House: Graffiti, Installations & Creativity

Every floor at the STUWO StudentCity Graz tells a different story. In the garage, colourful splashes are bringing some life into the otherwise monotonous room. The window facade is decorated with unique artworks and in the courtyard you can encounter an entire wall full of colourful cats, curiously peeking out of the mural.  Whether in the staircase or on the building’s exterior, countless murals in bright, vibrant colours — some abstract, some surreal — brighten the everyday lives of both residents and visitors.

Every corner carries the signature of a different artist. Year after year artists from all over the world came to Graz to help design the dormitory as part of the festival. For example, Daan Botlek, whose iconic white figures defy all rules of geometry and physics. Or David Leitner, whose giant mural blurs the boundaries between the human psyche and artificial intelligence. Jakoba Niepoort also left her mark – intertwined bodies, reminiscent of elements of nature, explore themes of connection and vulnerability. 

During the festival the residence was filled with a special kind of atmosphere. International guests, curious students, and creative minds from the art scene – everywhere people were discussing, painting, spraying, gluing and laughing – a place full of inspiration. 

And even though the festival has since moved on – the art remains. The STUWO StudentCity stays an open art space full of expression, encounter and inspiration – for residents and visitors alike. 

Urban Art Festival Styria 2026: New Locations, Fresh Inspiration

Urban Art Festival Styria returns in 2026 with a new edition under the theme “Europe in Touch”, bringing fresh artistic inspiration and new international collaborations. From 23 July to 2 August 2026, the festival will host workshops, concerts, and art projects across Graz, Fladnitz an der Teichalm, and St. Ruprecht an der Raab.

In Fladnitz, participants stay in self-catering cabins surrounded by nature—an ideal setting for creativity and inspiration. From 23 July to 2 August, a different participating country takes centre stage each day, presenting a live performance that showcases its art, culture, and history.

The 2026 festival team brings together people from a wide range of countries and cultural backgrounds. Among them is Christa Lorenz, who originally introduced the festival to STUWO StudentCity and remains an active member of the team. Lina Paimina and Norbert Lipp are also helping shape this year’s programme.

International collaboration is once again a key focus of the festival. Organisations from nine countries are involved, including Future Icons from Austria, which supports young arts and cultural initiatives. The festival also welcomes Erasmus+ participants from Spain, Greece, Türkiye, Slovakia, Latvia, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Norway. Together, they contribute diverse perspectives, creative projects, and plenty of artistic energy.

Anyone who would like to follow the festival online can keep up with the latest news and behind-the-scenes impressions on Instagram.

 

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