Vienna, February 6th, 2026 – Being part of Savaball means much more to the Returning Point than simply attending a major event. For the third year in a row, our team was in Vienna to continue conversations and relationships that have been built over many years, primarily with the people behind the Serbian Center in Vienna, the organizers of one of the most significant cultural events of the Serbian diaspora.
On the evening preceding the ball, the Returning Point team was invited to attend a special gathering traditionally hosted by the organizers for friends and partners of Savaball. Held in a more intimate setting, this meeting provided an opportunity for direct conversations with the organizing team, an exchange of experiences and ideas, and further strengthening of relationships grounded in shared values.
This year’s 27th edition of Savaball, held at the Hofburg Palace, was the most attended to date, bringing together more than 3,000 guests and once again confirming the event’s importance as one of the key meeting points of the Serbian diaspora. Set across 16 ceremonial halls of Hofburg, the ball brought together culture, tradition, humanitarian values, and contemporary artistic expression, creating a space in which heritage is not only preserved but actively shaped.
A special highlight of the evening was a musical moment that symbolically connected nearly 180 years of ballroom history: the premiere performance of the Savaball Waltz in Vienna, a composition specially written for the occasion by Fedor Vrtačnik. This performance echoed the year 1846, when the Serbian Quadrille by Johann Strauss II was first performed at the very same venue.
For Returning Point, attending Savaball and the events surrounding it represents an opportunity to further connect through meaningful encounters with people who, like the Serbian Center in Vienna, are deeply committed to preserving culture, strengthening community, and nurturing ties between Serbia and its diaspora.
