It was revived after the war it has been held annually ever since, with the exception of 1991, when it was cancelled due to the Persian Gulf War, and 20, both due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first ball to be named 'Opera Ball' was held in 1935 under the honorary patronage of the Federal Chancellor, but was suspended during World War II. These events were called also called Opernredoute. The first redoute after World War I took place in 1921, with proceeds going to the pension fund of the two state theaters. From 1878 until 1899, such redoute balls took place around two to three times a year.

The following balls were redoute, a French term for masquerade balls or costume parties, where the ladies wore their masks until midnight. The first ball in the opera house took place in 1877 as a soirée. The tradition of the ball goes back to 1814 during the time when the crowned heads of Europe and the aristocracy searched for entertainment after the Napoleonic wars. Together with the New Year Concert, the ball is one of the highlights of the Viennese carnival season. The Vienna Opera Ball ( German: Wiener Opernball) is an annual Austrian society event which takes place in the building of the Vienna State Opera in Vienna, Austria on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday (a religious holiday). The actress Mira Sorvino at the opera ball (2013)

Vienna opera house new years eve