Photo: Lucas Tuan-Anh Nguyen
BIENNALE
Welcome to Funga.
Every two years, Pilzfestspiele turns Vienna into the capital of mushroom research. Under the motto Welcome to Funga, the 2025 festival, the only one of its kind in Europe, put the mostly invisible world of fungi centre stage and raised awareness of their fundamental importance in ecosystems, climate protection and the circular economy. Top-class scientists and citizen scientists presented current research in a variety of formats such as exhibitions, film screenings, lectures and workshops at numerous venues. With over 6,200 visitors, 300 students, 77 speakers and 20 venues, the second Vienna Pilzfestspiele was already significantly larger than the premiere in 2023.
A particular highlight was the presentation by Giuliana Furci, the founder and director of the Fungi Foundation, which is the oldest NGO dedicated to the protection of fungi. She has spent years campaigning through the FFF initiative (Fauna, Flora, Funga) for fungi to be included in national and global species protection laws.
International speakers
PILZFEST
The strategy game in the fungal kingdom.
Pilzfest follows the life cycle of fungi. A journey of growth, spread, decay, and new beginnings. In gameplay terms, this means: growing mushrooms to collect points, spreading spores to expand your mycelial network, and ultimately experiencing the decay of your mushrooms to unlock special actions.
We are committed to preserving and protecting ecosystems.
With every game sold, we support the UNESCO World Heritage Dürrenstein-Lassingtal Wilderness Area. For each Pilzfest, five square metres of the surrounding forest area are set aside from use for eighty years. In this way, you contribute to preserving the oldest ecosystem in Central Europe.
Designed & illustrated by J. J. Neville. Translated from the English by Dr Wolfgang Hinterdobler.
1.525
m²
Status: 01.01.2026
