Being a diverse city means creating the best possible framework conditions for all residents. Different needs based on age, gender, educational level, income, origin and lifestyle as well as the demands and wishes of residents are taken into account by good urban planning from the outset. This is why the integration centre is located in Service Unit Strategy and integration
What are the tasks of the Integration Centre?
- Incorporating social issues into urban planning and urban development
- Public relations work
- Initiating and realising projects
- Internal and external networking:
Integration and diversity are cross-cutting issues and affect all areas of our society. The Integration Office therefore contributes its expertise to various areas of administration. Numerous projects and programmes are only possible thanks to good cooperation with various partners. - Innsbruck is part of ECCAR:
With the unanimous municipal council resolution of 24 October 2025, the city of Innsbruck has joined the European city network "European Coalition of Cities Against Racism (ECCAR)". This means that Innsbruck is now one of over 180 cities in Europe that are actively committed to equal treatment. Joining is not just a political commitment, but the start of a binding process: Innsbruck undertakes to develop a municipal ten-point action plan that defines measures against racism and in favour of equal opportunities. This plan is being developed together with experts from administration, politics and civil society. Initial discussions have already taken place. The aim is to target areas where unequal treatment is visible or hidden, as a fair city is created through daily action, reflection and the courage to critically scrutinise structures.
As part of the ECCAR accession, the city of Innsbruck organised a lecture by Melisa Erkurt on the topic "Was that racist?
What offers & projects are there?
Activities for parents and children
German language courses with childcare
There is a great demand for German language courses that also offer childcare during course times. In order to meet this demand, the city of Innsbruck supports childcare during German courses at the Berufsförderungsinstitut (BFI) Tirol. Children between the ages of one and four are looked after by Kinderfreunde.
German in summer: Courses for children
At "Deutsch im Sommer", children who have attended a municipal kindergarten in the past year and who need support in German receive German courses. The offer from the City of Innsbruck and the Red Cross Youth takes place during the summer holidays. The aim is to prepare children for starting school in a playful and age-appropriate way. Further information can be obtained from the kindergarten your child attends.
Services for asylum seekers and those granted asylum
chancen:reich Innsbruck careers fair
The City of Innsbruck, in cooperation with AMS, WK and itworks, organises the annual ‘chancen:reich Innsbruck’ careers fair at the Town Hall. The aim is to place people who have been granted asylum with Tyrolean companies and to integrate them into the labour market.
Swimming courses for refugees
As many refugees are unable to swim, the city of Innsbruck offers swimming courses for this target group every early summer at the Tivoli. Half of the offer is funded by the state of Tyrol. The costs for admission are covered by IKB. A total of four courses take place.
Offers for volunteers in the refugee sector
Many volunteers support people with a history of flight. They help them to arrive in Austria and find their way around. In addition to language barriers, questions about the labour market, education and social system, health or housing may arise during the support. Many of these questions may not be easy to answer straight away. The Integration Office therefore organises information evenings and offers for volunteers in the refugee sector at regular intervals.
Lectures, events & an award
16th Tyrolean Integration Enquiry
21 October 2026: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm: at Landhaus 1, Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz 3, Main Hall
Lonely in Diversity – on loneliness and spaces for encounter
More and more people are feeling lonely – and they are not alone in this. In Austria, a survey found that 28 per cent of respondents said they occasionally felt lonely, with certain factors posing an increased risk of loneliness: age, health, poverty, place of residence, and also background. Where background becomes a risk factor for loneliness, it is not enough to view the phenomenon solely at an individual level. The 16th Integration Enquiry examines the causes and effects of loneliness in the context of migration as a social and societal phenomenon. However, we do not wish merely to analyse; we also want to think ahead together: What can be done to remedy the situation, and how can we foster a sense of community that transcends characteristics such as background or age? The event will explore approaches and projects from civil society as well as academic perspectives. Join us and take part in the discussion on how we, as a society, can reconnect with one another.
Programme
- From 8.30 am: Welcome coffee
- 9.00 am: Start
- Lonely in Diversity – On loneliness and spaces for encounter
Loneliness is an increasingly relevant health and social issue. Although people today have numerous opportunities to communicate with one another and build social connections, many still feel lonely. Loneliness arises when existing social relationships do not meet one’s own needs and expectations. However, fulfilling social relationships and social well-being are key determinants of health and social cohesion.
Individual and societal factors that may contribute to or counteract loneliness will be presented with a view to possible interventions.
Karin Gutierrez-Lobos is a specialist in psychiatry and neurology, a psychotherapist and co-founder of the Platform Against Loneliness. - Loneliness in the context of migration: structural causes and social responsibility
Loneliness is not an individual phenomenon, but a structurally determined risk that affects people with a migration background in Austria in a particular way. Current data from Austria show that those born abroad report loneliness more frequently than those born in Austria; at the same time, financial difficulties, health problems and limited social networks further increase the risk. Language barriers, discrimination, precarious living situations and the loss of familiar social ties make social participation more difficult. The lecture contextualises these findings and examines the role played by integration, low-threshold services and social infrastructure in strengthening a sense of belonging and opportunities for social contact.
Judith Kohlenberger heads the Research Institute for Migration and Refugee Research and Management (FORM) at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. - 12 noon: Lunch break
- Practical discussion
Thematic inputs serve as a starting point for a joint and systematic reflection on the topic.
With contributions from:
Caritas: The ‘Together Against Loneliness’ programme brings people together through accessible services and supports youth projects aimed at combating isolation.
Hall Intercultural Women’s Café: Brings together women from different backgrounds, cultures and religions to break down prejudices and prevent loneliness.
Unicum:Mensch: The ‘Kulturbuddy’ project creates shared experiences through art and culture to counteract social isolation.
Petra Knoflach: Actress and director of the Caritas Integration Centre, she offers practical insights into how theatre projects can overcome loneliness in her talk entitled ‘Loneliness in Old Age’. Bandari: Provides a space for young men with a migrant background to meet. Through counselling and leisure activities, interaction is encouraged and social isolation is counteracted.
Participation in the Enquete is free of charge.
For organisational reasons, registration at the Haus der Begegnung is essential by 14 October 2026.
Panel discussion on the Reichenau Memorial Site: ‘Rethinking Remembrance’
5 November 2026, 6.00 pm at the Haus der Begegnung
The Reichenau Memorial Site is due to open in 2027. It commemorates those who were killed and imprisoned in the former Nazi camp complex. The establishment of the memorial comes at a time when there are hardly any eyewitnesses left. To keep the memory of this dark chapter in history alive, new approaches are therefore needed. But why should this history interest young people if they can hardly make any personal connections to it? What does the memorial site mean for young people today? Especially for those whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents do not come from Tyrol or Central Europe? And how can we develop a shared practice of remembrance, despite our different family histories?
This event is an invitation to discuss with experts what is needed to ensure that the memorial becomes a place where young and old alike can remember today, in order to shape a democratic tomorrow.
Speakers:
- Dennis Forster, MA: research assistant and educator at the Flossenbürg Concentration Camp Memorial, where he is responsible for educational programmes targeting a wide range of audiences – from trainees and executives at AUDI AG, US soldiers and refugees to international youth groups
- Tobias Rettenbacher, BA: project officer at the new Reichenau Memorial and administrative officer in the departments of Cultural Development and Funding, as well as the Innsbruck City Archives/City Museum
- Dr Christian Mathies: erinnern:at
- Mag.a Irene Girkinger: Artistic Director of the Tyrolean State Theatre
Moderator: Tuğba Şababoğlu, MA
Target audiences: Teachers , educators and anyone interested
Registration: By email to hdb.kurse@dibk.at
An event organised by the City of Innsbruck and Haus der Begegnung.
Event series "Perspectives on countries of origin"
The series sheds light on the countries of origin of immigrants to Austria and Tyrol: What is the current situation in each country? How are those affected doing in Austria? How can biographical stories be an anchor for civic engagement? The evenings provide insights rich in perspective and offer space for exchange. A series of events in cooperation with the Haus der Begegnung.
Co-organisers: Initiative So sind wir nicht, Plattform Asyl FÜR MENSCHEN RECHTE and FLUCHTPunkt.
Festival of Diversity 2026 – an event celebrating democracy, human rights and social inclusion
The festival took place on Saturday 20 June 2026 from 12 noon to 8 pm at the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum and this year placed a clear emphasis on democracy, human rights and social inclusion. With this festival, the City of Innsbruck celebrated harmonious coexistence every year – in all its diversity.
Prize of Diversity
Since 2008, the City of Innsbruck has been awarding the "Prize of Diversity - Promoting Coexistence" (formerly "Prize of Cultures"). The prize is awarded to individuals and institutions that have made a special contribution to the integration of immigrants in the city in their everyday lives. The award is endowed with 4,000 euros, and a jury decides on the award.
City walks exploring the history of migration
In collaboration with the Centre for Migrants (ZeMit), the City of Innsbruck offers city walks exploring the history of migration. These walks are aimed at interested members of the public, school groups and ‘new’ residents of Innsbruck. The walks take in the following locations:
- Around Sillpark (the “Herrburger und Rhomberg” textile factory)
- Through St. Nikolaus (in the footsteps of the former “guest workers”)
- The South Tyrolean estates in Pradl (architectural history then and now)
- Around the railway station (history of migrant worker migration)
- Educational pathways (an insight into the education system and integration measures for the children of migrant workers in the 1970s and 1980s)
Multireligious Walks
A group of students studying European Ethnology at the University of Innsbruck, led by Prof. Timo Heimerdinger (University of Innsbruck) and Mag.a Magdalena Modler-El Abdaoui (House of Encounter of the Diocese of Innsbruck), has been exploring places of religious life and expression in Innsbruck, some well-known and others less so. This project has resulted in various routes for city walks. The City of Innsbruck was responsible for the technical implementation.
A group of students studying European Ethnology at the University of Innsbruck, in collaboration with the Haus der Begegnung of the Diocese of Innsbruck, has explored places of religious life and expression in Innsbruck, some well-known and others less so. This project has resulted in two city walking routes, which are being continuously expanded – for example, in 2026 in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Theology and Religious Education. The City of Innsbruck is responsible for the technical implementation of the‘multi-religious city walks’.
Postcolonial Map of Innsbruck
Is Innsbruck entangled in global colonial relations? A digital city map reveals that the Tyrolean capital is not only a hub of the Alpine region, but has also been part of an interconnected world for centuries. The city map was developed by students of History and European Ethnology at the University of Innsbruck, with technical implementation provided by the City of Innsbruck.
A total of 29 locations dotted across the city invite visitors to explore previously largely unknown traces, places and stories – and, in doing so, to reflect on inequalities, racism and resistance. The stations and their accompanying texts deal, for example, with the colonial trade, Capuchin missionaries around the world, and a solidarity movement that campaigned against apartheid in South Africa. On the one hand, the virtual city map makes the students’ work accessible to a wide public; on the other, the stations demonstrate just how closely intertwined our city was – and still is – with the wider world.
Solo for many - a listening experience through Innsbruck
With the audio guide "Solo für Viele - ein Hörerlebnis durch Innsbruck" (Solo for many - a listening experience through Innsbruck), the city of Innsbruck invites you to discover the city center differently with headphones and the voice of a narrator. To the sounds of a masterful violin, the tour passes sights and along socially generated everyday life. Strolling through city life, one can discover how people create anonymity and routinely deal with strangeness. A project of the city in cooperation with the University of Innsbruck.
Contact for the rental of the audio guides: University of Innsbruck, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Marc Hill, E-Mail: marc.hill@uibk.ac.at
Video interpreting
Video interpreting is a service provided by the City of Innsbruck to help overcome language barriers. The service, which is free of charge for residents, can be accessed within a maximum of two minutes. Staff at the Social Services Office, Registry Office, Housing Service, Public Health Office and Child and Youth Services have access to the service.
Interpreting offer
Here you will find the contact details of graduates of the "University Course Community Interpreting" and other trained interpreters who are available for interpreting assignments in the medical, legal, municipal, psychosocial and educational fields. (as of March 2026)