Finally barrier-free: The new visitor lift in the first courtyard has been completed!
09. April 2026
The Natural History Museum Vienna celebrates the long-awaited opening of a new lift on Friday, April 10, 2026, at
10 a.m. The new visitor lift accommodates 42 people and provides barrier-free access to all levels of the museum,
from the basement to deck 50.
[Translated by eTranslation]
All interested parties can expect a test lift ride. Construction site breakfast with (non-alcoholic) beer and Frankfurt sausages! Volunteers from Jugend am Werk play a key role in making the festival a success!
"Our top priority in the implementation of the construction project is to ensure accessibility for ALL visitors, regardless of age, mobility or other individual restrictions", explains Mag. Markus Roboch, Managing Director of NHM Vienna.
"The new vertical development is an architectural gesture of inclusion – it connects levels, overcomes barriers and invites all visitors to experience the Natural History Museum Vienna in a new, accessible way. There is a sensitive dialogue between the past and the future."
M.Arch. Gabriele Bernatzky, Managing Director, Hoskins Architects
"In a modern tourist destination, quality must go up and barriers must come down. That is exactly what the new lift at the Natural History Museum stands for. After all, a strong tourist destination is also characterised by the fact that its cultural landmarks can be experienced by everyone easily, comfortably and as a matter of course," said Mag.a Elisabeth Zehetner, State Secretary for Tourism.
"Accessibility also begins with structural measures. It is therefore a central concern of our ministry to adapt the locations of our federal cultural institutions to the requirements of the times. We are making financial resources available for this purpose, as for the new lift system in the courtyard of the NHM."
Mag.a Theresia Niedermüller, Head of the Art and Culture Section at the Federal Ministry of Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sport
"Accessible access to all buildings is essential for our inclusive society, especially in places where knowledge is shared. This also applies, of course, to buildings that are culturally and historically valuable and listed as historic monuments."
Burghauptmann Hofrat Mag. Reinhold Sahl, Burghauptmannschaft Österreich, whose office supervises the buildings of the NHM Vienna.
Press images: https://nhm.px.media/share/1775822803sBvngmRyMTvkVf/media
Link to the NHM Vienna Masterplan: https://www.nhm.at/verlag/nhmwreports.2024.3
Inquiry note
Mag. Irina Kubadinow
Head of Press & Public Relations, Press Spokesperson
Tel.: +43 (1) 521 77-410
irina.kubadinow@nhm.at
Mag. Klara Vakaj
Press officer
Tel.: +43 (1) 521 77-626
klara.vakaj@nhm.at
All interested parties can expect a test lift ride. Construction site breakfast with (non-alcoholic) beer and Frankfurt sausages! Volunteers from Jugend am Werk play a key role in making the festival a success!
O-tones of the speakers:
"According to our mission statement, the Natural History Museum Vienna sees itself as an inspiring meeting place where, in addition to evidence-based mediation, dialogue and exchange between science and society take place. The accessibility of the new lift will significantly simplify and enrich the visitor experience", says Dr Katrin Vohland, Director General and Scientific Director of NHM Vienna."Our top priority in the implementation of the construction project is to ensure accessibility for ALL visitors, regardless of age, mobility or other individual restrictions", explains Mag. Markus Roboch, Managing Director of NHM Vienna.
"The new vertical development is an architectural gesture of inclusion – it connects levels, overcomes barriers and invites all visitors to experience the Natural History Museum Vienna in a new, accessible way. There is a sensitive dialogue between the past and the future."
M.Arch. Gabriele Bernatzky, Managing Director, Hoskins Architects
"In a modern tourist destination, quality must go up and barriers must come down. That is exactly what the new lift at the Natural History Museum stands for. After all, a strong tourist destination is also characterised by the fact that its cultural landmarks can be experienced by everyone easily, comfortably and as a matter of course," said Mag.a Elisabeth Zehetner, State Secretary for Tourism.
"Accessibility also begins with structural measures. It is therefore a central concern of our ministry to adapt the locations of our federal cultural institutions to the requirements of the times. We are making financial resources available for this purpose, as for the new lift system in the courtyard of the NHM."
Mag.a Theresia Niedermüller, Head of the Art and Culture Section at the Federal Ministry of Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sport
"Accessible access to all buildings is essential for our inclusive society, especially in places where knowledge is shared. This also applies, of course, to buildings that are culturally and historically valuable and listed as historic monuments."
Burghauptmann Hofrat Mag. Reinhold Sahl, Burghauptmannschaft Österreich, whose office supervises the buildings of the NHM Vienna.
Press images: https://nhm.px.media/share/1775822803sBvngmRyMTvkVf/media
Link to the NHM Vienna Masterplan: https://www.nhm.at/verlag/nhmwreports.2024.3
Inquiry note
Mag. Irina Kubadinow
Head of Press & Public Relations, Press Spokesperson
Tel.: +43 (1) 521 77-410
irina.kubadinow@nhm.at
Mag. Klara Vakaj
Press officer
Tel.: +43 (1) 521 77-626
klara.vakaj@nhm.at
Mag. Markus Roboch and Dr. Katrin Vohland
