From Kabul to Vienna: A Celebration of Afghan Identity and Integration

A Festival Where Integration Becomes Collective Practice

On 4 and 5 July, the Afghan cultural and sports association NEUER START organized the 13th Integration Festival “From Kabul to Vienna” in Vienna’s 20th district. Under the motto “democracy, participation, and equality,” the event brought together Afghan families, Austrian partners, youth groups, and cultural associations from across the country. 

Over two days, the festival demonstrated how integration is strengthened through shared cultural spaces, community engagement, and intergenerational participation.

The program was intentionally broad: football and volleyball tournaments, chess competitions, henna art, children’s activities, Afghan food stands, exhibitions of traditional clothing, book presentations, yoga workshops, dances, and a musical performance by well‑known Afghan singer Nazir Khara. This diversity reflects a deliberate integration strategy—creating environments where Afghans and Austrians interact naturally, build trust, and exchange experiences.

Ali Shayan, one of the organizers, described the festival as a platform where cultural identity and integration reinforce each other. 

“This is the 13th ‘From Kabul to Vienna’ festival,” he said. “Alongside the sports tournaments, we have cultural booths where Afghan associations in Vienna and Austria, as well as our Austrian partner organizations, provide information about asylum and integration in Austrian society.”

His remarks highlight a central feature: the festival is not only celebratory but also educational. Afghan organizations use the event to guide newcomers through Austria’s social and bureaucratic landscape, while Austrian institutions use it to build bridges with communities that often feel marginalized. Integration becomes a shared responsibility rather than a one‑sided expectation.

Shokat Walizadeh, founder of NEUER START, emphasized the scale of collaboration:

“From Kabul to Vienna has been organized for 13 years. This year, 25 different organizations supported us.” His comment underscores the festival’s evolution from a community initiative into one of Austria’s most significant diaspora‑driven integration events.

Another participant described the festival as “the largest integration festival in all of Austria,” adding that it demonstrates “the unity of Afghans across all cities of Austria. This solidarity shows how much we Afghans love each other.” Such reactions reveal how cultural events can strengthen diaspora cohesion while simultaneously opening doors to the host society.

Culture, Language and Identity as Tools of Integration

Beyond sports and celebration, the festival also served as a platform for cultural education and identity preservation. Shaima Khudayar, a cultural coordinator at NEUER START, presented two initiatives: an online Persian‑language library and the Persian school ‘Farhangsara,’ established two years ago for Afghan children in Austria.

Khudayar explained: “We founded an online library with Persian books in literature, history, and other fields. Alongside it, we established the Farhangsara school, where Afghan children learn their mother tongue.” 

Khudayar’s goal is to ensure that Afghan children born or raised in Austria can read and write in Persian and remain connected to their cultural heritage. 

“Language becomes a bridge between children and their parents,” she said, emphasizing that maintaining the mother tongue strengthens family communication and cultural continuity.

She also highlighted the importance of promoting reading habits within the Afghan community. “Unfortunately, in today’s world, media and the internet take much of people’s time. Through the online library, I wanted to encourage Afghan migrants to read more books and spend less time in the virtual world.”

The presence of Bagher Ahmadi, Afghan actor, writer, and filmmaker, added another dimension. Living in Austria for 14 years, he used the festival to present his autobiography and share his migration story. He described his motivation as meeting fellow Afghans, exchanging positive energy, and encouraging young people to pursue education and active participation in Austrian society.

Analytically, the festival illustrates how integration is not limited to language acquisition or employment. It is also emotional, cultural, and communal—a process shaped by identity, shared experiences, and the creation of inclusive public spaces. 

By combining sports, art, music, food, and educational initiatives, “From Kabul to Vienna” demonstrates a model of integration rooted in interaction, visibility, and collective participation.

After thirteen years, the festival has become more than an event. It is a cultural institution that strengthens Afghan identity while opening doors to Austrian society—showing that integration thrives where culture, community, and participation meet.