Austria’s largest fair for careers, studies, and further education opened its doors from Thursday, March 12 to Sunday, March 15 at Messe Wien (VIECON), Hall C. Admission was, as usual, free of charge.
Over four fair days, everything revolved around the focus theme “Your Path to the Future“. More than 55,000 visitors followed this guiding principle and seized the opportunity to comprehensively inform themselves about educational and career paths and to plan their next steps on their journey into the future.
As a central information and orientation platform, the BeSt is aimed at everyone concerned with their professional future—regardless of age, educational background, or career stage. In doing so, the fair provided more than 300 exhibitors with access to a broad and interested audience.
Exhibitors include universities, universities of applied sciences, academies, colleges, schools, private educational providers, and counseling institutions from all over Austria and abroad. The offering was complemented by companies seeking skilled workers and apprentices, as well as by interest groups, federal ministries, and authorities.
The BeSt is organized by the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS), the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Federal Ministry for Women, Science, and Research. For over 20 years, the BeSt Klagenfurt and BeSt Innsbruck have been organized by SoWi-Holding. Furthermore, it has been acting as the fair office for BeSt Vienna since this year.
Countless opportunities to discover the path to the future together
The focus was on personal exchange at eye level: Countless conversations were held at the exhibition stands. Educational paths were discovered, careers explored, job opportunities assessed—all to find one’s own path to the future.
A varied stage and workshop program complemented the fair offering and made the content experiential.
Focus Theme “Your Path to the Future”
The focus theme “Your Path to the Future” ran like a common thread through the entire program. The contributions addressed central questions that concern young people and those interested in further education today—from choosing the right training place or degree program to international opportunities and the competencies needed in a dynamic future.
Thus, BeSt Vienna 2026 became a place where exhibitors were connected with those interested in education and careers. In this way, we can collectively set the course for all our futures.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our exhibitors, partners, and visitors who made this fair an unforgettable experience.
We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Next Opportunities in 2026
BeSt Klagenfurt from October 15 to 17, 2026
BeSt Innsbruck from December 2 to 4, 2026
Request a Stand: www.sowiholding.at/messen
Short Facts:
- Approx. 55,000 visitors
- 309 exhibitors
- Four fair days of intensive exchange between visitors and exhibitors
- 120 stage slots, over 70 of which were on the main stage and Deep Dive stage, aligned with the focus theme:
- Orientation, Decision, and Self-Management: 7
- Study Choice and Future Competencies: 24
- Career Paths: 19
- International Perspectives: 7
- Future Fields: 14
- 25 Workshops
- Countless personal conversations at the exhibition stands
