From 23 to 27 April 2026, citizen engagement returns to the Austrian-Hungarian Living Lab within the ALFAwetlands project. The City Nature Challenge 2026 and the Living Lab Open Day invite citizens to document biodiversity of international importance and explore the results and activities of ALFAwetlands.
Many events in one place
The Illmitz Information Centre in the Neusiedler See – Seewinkel National Park will once again host a vibrant programme, includingBirdExperience (BEX) 2026. Together with the City Nature Challenge and the ALFAwetlands Living Lab Open Day, the event combines citizen science, hands-on outdoor activities and cross-border cooperation.
Visitors can also discover other ALFAwetlands Living Labs through a photo exhibition and recorded presentations, and take part in activities linked to the Long Night of Research.
Please also read: Living Lab Open Day in Austria 2024
City Nature Challenge 2026
A key highlight is the City Nature Challenge, taking place in the region for the sixth time and expanding across Austria and Hungary. Participants are invited to record animals, plants and fungi across the entire Neusiedler See – Seewinkel area and surrounding regions.
Participation is simple: upload observations via the app or website – no registration or expert knowledge required. All records contribute to a global effort to document biodiversity. Visitors will also receive support from park rangers and experts at local info points.
A cross-border bike excursion will take place on 27 April and will go through meadows, pastures and salt flats, right through the heart of two national parks!
BirdExperience
Alongside the trade fair, BirdExperience offers:
- guided excursions
- workshops and expert talks
- BirdRace and BirdQuiz
- insights into bird ringing
Citizen engagement in action
The ALFAwetlands Austrian-Hungarian Living Lab is a space where researchers, protected area managers and citizens collaborate on wetland biodiversity. Through guided fieldwork, citizen science and cross-border participation, visitors become active contributors to biodiversity monitoring.
These activities, combined with the Living Lab Open Day, create a hands-on experience for all audiences: from experts to families, encouraging people not only to observe nature but to actively contribute to it.
Join us in Illmitz from 23 to 27 April 2026 and help make biodiversity visible across borders.