Together with the New Year Concert , the ball is one of the highlights of the Viennese carnival season. The tradition of the ball goes back to during the time when the crowned heads of Europe and the aristocracy searched for entertainment after the Napoleonic wars. The following balls were redoute , a French term for masquerade balls or costume parties, where the ladies wore their masks until midnight. From until , such redoute balls took place around two to three times a year.
The first redoute after World War I took place in , with proceeds going to the pension fund of the two state theaters. These events were called also called Opernredoute. The first ball to be named "Opera Ball" was held in under the honorary patronage of the Federal Chancellor , but was suspended during World War II. It was revived after the war; it has been held annually ever since, with the exception of , when it was cancelled due to the Persian Gulf War , and and , both due to the COVID pandemic.
It is the highlight of the season, with the heads of state and government, the political and industrial elite, members of the high society, and their guests attending.
The price for the entry tickets is the highest of all the Viennese balls. There have been occasional outbreaks of violence. This has almost disappeared since , with protests focusing on the nationalist Akademikerball instead.
In February the first same-sex couple were presented as debutante and escort at the ball. Each year, almost overnight, the auditorium of the Vienna State Opera is turned into a large ballroom. On the eve of the event, the rows of seats are removed from the stalls , and a new floor, level with the stage , is built. The dress code is evening dress : white tie and tails for men; strictly floor-length gowns for women. White opera gloves are still mandatory for female debutantes at the Vienna Opera Ball.
