U.S. Embassy Vienna

🇺🇸🏈🇦🇹 Welcome to Vienna, Seattle Seahawks !

We’re excited to welcome a delegation from this year’s NFL Super Bowl Champions to Austria’s capital June 2–7. During their visit, the Seahawks has already connected with the local community through youth flag football camps, a Special Olympics event at Schönbrunn Palace, and will have inspiring conversations with students and football players from the ACSL at WU.

The visit will culminate at the Vienna Vikings vs. Rhein Fire game, where Ambassador Fisher will perform the coin toss.

Follow along for more sports diplomacy content this summer!

📸1: Seahawks Legend Mack Strong in a huddle with flag football participants. Hannes Jirgal
📸2: Mack Strong, Left, State Secretary for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport Michaela Schmidt, middle, and Seahawks mascot Bam, right. Hannes Jirgal
📸3: Students participating in the flag football clinic. Hannes Jirgal
📸 4: The opening ceremony for the Sport Austria Finals with Peter Hacker, Vienna City Council Member in Charge of Social Affairs, Health, and Sports, shaking hands with Seahawks Legend Mack Strong. (c) Sport Austria/Michael Meindl

🇺🇸🎓🇦🇹 Yesterday, Ambassador Fisher spoke with students at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien about economic diplomacy and the U.S.-Austria relationship.

Following his remarks, Ambassador Fisher joined Diplomatic Academy Director Ambassador Martin Eichtinger for an engaging discussion with the next generation of diplomats.

Thank you to the Diplomatic Academy for hosting us and to the students for their thoughtful questions and engagement.

🇺🇸🚁🇦🇹 The first Austrian UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter has been handed over to the U.S. Army for military outfitting and certification —a key milestone in Austria’s Armed Forces 2032+ modernization plan.

These new helicopters will enhance Austria’s disaster relief, search and rescue, and international operations capabilities. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to security and humanitarian response.

📷 Austrian Bundesheer: First Austrian UH-60M Black Hawk, S/N 24-27529

🇺🇸2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ Did you know that the American Writer Mark Twain, famous for his works such as the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, spent 20 months in Vienna, Austria from 1897 to 1899?

The New York Times even reported on the departure of the popular writer: “Mark Twain has left Vienna after a twenty months' stay, and no other town has ever seen him depart with more regret. He had become well known to everyone. Wherever there was a festivity or something interesting to be seen or heard the famous humorist was to be found. There are few persons here of any importance whose acquaintance he did not make. A farewell audience was quickly granted by his Majesty Francis Joseph. Mr. Clemens had expected to be received on the ordinary audience day, and his surprise was great when he was informed that he would be received in private audience.”

On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.

Make sure you are following us on our social media channels and join us to celebrate in the lead up July 4, 2026.


📸Stirring times in Austria described by Mark Twain in Harper's March