Weihnachten mit Wanda 2025 - An Energetic Early Christmas Present
It’s the week before Christmas, which can only mean one thing: It’s time for Weihnachten mit Wanda (Christmas with Wanda). Ever since their celebrated premiere in 2023 and successful show in 2024, the Austrian band Wanda returned with their tradition a third time, selling out Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria on December 19th, 2025.
Wanda is an Austrian Indie-Pop, Rock, and Austropop band, founded in 2012. One of their most well-known songs, "Bologna", featured in their first album, Amore, was released in late 2014. Since then, Michael "Marco" Fitzthum, Manuel "Christoph" Poppe, and Reinhold Weber released five other studio albums and one live album, featuring well-known songs like "Columbo", "Bussi Baby", and "1,2,3,4".
Weihnachten mit Wanda 2025
For me, it was the first time attending one of their concerts. However, from the first moment I entered the venue, I felt incredibly welcome. Ranking from young to old, leather jackets to Christmas sweaters, beards decorated with small Christmas balls or neatly combed hair, the fans couldn’t be more different. What they all had in common? Their great mood and readiness to dance, sing, and simply have a good time.
Kent Coda was the pre-act of the night, charmingly introduced by Wanda themselves. After Wanda supported them for their first song, the Cologne-based band played songs in Turkish, entertaining their crowd with their own unique twist of indie-folk, infused with Turkish elements.
After Kent Coda, the crowd was ready for the anticipated main act. Opening with one of Wanda's most well-known songs, "Bologna". The crowd was dancing and singing their lungs out, while Wanda delivered an energetic performance from the first note of their first song. After a short cover of Nirvana's song "Territorial Pissings", the band welcomed the crowd and continued with songs such as "Auseinandergehen ist schwer" (“Breaking up is hard”).
"Stille Nacht" was next, which is the German version of the well-known Christmas song "Silent Night", the crowd singing their lungs out once again to this very fitting song for Christmas spirits. A quick comment of “Na dann mach ma mal weiter, weiter” was the segue to their song "Weiter, Weiter" ("Next, Next"), which was then followed by "Luzia". "Wachgeküsst" ("Awakened by a kiss") was introduced by the lead singer of Wanda, shouting: “Ihr habt uns wahrhaftig wachgeküsst” (You have truly awakened us with a kiss). Wanda continued by commenting, “Ihr habt einen wundervollen vibe, Danke Wien” (You have a wonderful vibe, thank you Vienna), while grinning from ear to ear.
Something special about Wanda is that they seem not to want to stop playing certain songs. While "Wachgeküsst" gifted us an incredible guitar solo that must have lasted two minutes, "Va Bene" ("All right") was introduced and animated those fans watching from the stands to stand up and dance too, which many already did anyway. "Lascia Mi Fare" ("Let me do it") was commented by Wanda with “You got the vibe Wien”, and yes – they definitely had the vibe. The performance of "Meine beiden Schwestern" ("My two sisters") led to a funny moment, as the lead singer decided to act like he had long hair for a second with his towel, which he later threw into the crowd.
In general, lots of things were thrown into the crowd by Wanda. From water bottles for thirsty fans at barricade, cigarettes, or guitar picks – the crowd received some early Christmas presents, which they all seemed to love.
Speaking of early Christmas presents, after their song "Ich will Schnaps" ("I want Schnaps"), they brought out their surprise act, which has become a tradition for Weihnachten mit Wanda. This year, it was the German indie band Juli, who shaped countless childhoods and adolescences. So it was no surprise that the crowd knew all the words to the three songs they played – "Geile Zeit", "Dieses Leben", and "Perfekte Welle". How the audience still had such energy after partying so much with Wanda, I don’t know. However, they continued with Juli, and each band member left the stage with a big grin on their face. And Wanda themselves said it best: “Juli hat ein Feuer entfacht” (Juli ignited a fire).
The crowd lightened their flashlights during Wanda’s next song, "Bei niemand anders", which is always a particularly intimate moment at concerts. And at Wiener Stadthalle, with around 14.000 people gathered, it’s so special. Even more so because this song is a heartfelt tribute to their late keyboarder Christian Hummer. After this moment of slowing down, Wanda heated up again with "Bussi Baby", which is still stuck in my head while writing this. You just could not help but get into the vibe, not between the energetic crowd and the energy beaming off of Wanda on stage. Following another well-known song, "Columbo" and a “Es war fantastisch mit euch, Danke” (It was fantastic with all of you, thank you), Wanda played their last song, "1,2,3,4".
However, Wanda didn’t want to go. After an extended performance of this song, Juli joining them on stage dancing, and a heartfelt “Danke Wien, Amore”, they left the stage while "Bologna" was playing through the speakers – only to return a minute later to come back on stage and say “Wir können noch nicht gehen” (We can't leave just yet), singing one last song.
After performing "Bologna" again, this time, they truly said goodbye with a “Vielen Dank Wien, we fucking love you” (Thank you Vienna, we fucking love you), closing the electric night, leaving the crowd buzzing with energy. No matter who you are, how old you are, or where you come from, Weihnachten mit Wanda is for everyone wanting to dance, sing their lungs out, and have a good time before Christmas, which led to an incredible, energetic night and an amazing early Christmas present for many.
WANT TO JOIN NEXT YEAR? TICKETS FOR WEIHNACHTEN MIT WANDA 2026 ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE HERE OR HERE.
CHECK OUT ALL PHOTOS OF THE SHOW-NIGHT HERE:
REVIEW BY
Laura
The excitement and emotions of loving something so deeply, let it be a musician, song, concert, books or even sports, has always been a prevalent and influencing part of my life. Time goes by so quickly, and I love to indulge in the sense of community being experienced in music, with book-lovers or sports fans. My favorite part is the very connection you share with people, strangers becoming friends and the joy of discovering something new that you learn to love. Sharing my passions, newest discoveries, new/old recommendations and so much more is what brings me joy in my spare time and is what I like to do as a writer for this magazine.
PHOTOS BY
Lea
Usually you'll find me at a concert, somewhere between barricade and moshpit or of course behind my camera. I love not only documenting the energy on stage, but also capturing the little moments in between. Vienna based:)
