Frequently Asked Questions, or everything you ever wanted to know about the event

When: Wednesday, 26 August 2026 – Sunday, 30 August 2026
Where: Ottenschlag Castle – Castle 1, 3631 Ottenschlag, Austria
Tickets: Tickets
Merch: tbd
Matrix: Channel for Questions
Barcamp: tbd
Shuttle/Travel: Travel

Contact: kontakt@hack-mas.at
Mastodon: https://chaos.social/@hackmas

Awareness: tbd
First Aid: tbd
PL: tbd

Why are you organising the event again?

Because it was brilliant last time and we want to do it again!

What is the schedule for the event?

The main arrival day is Wednesday, 26 August. The daily programme will run from the opening on Thursday, 27 August at 11:00 am until the closing on Sunday, 30 August at 2:00 pm. After that, dismantling begins; departure is also possible on Monday, 31 August.

Are there opportunities to help out before and after the event?

Set-up takes place from 22 August to 26 August. Dismantling begins on the day of departure, 30 August, and ends on 1 September. If you’d like to help with set-up or dismantling, please contact kontakt@hack-mas.at.

Why should I go to Håck ma’s?

Håck ma’s 2024 was the first Austria-wide event organised in the spirit of Chaos! Anyone looking to exchange ideas here or seeking a smaller outdoor event between the major camp years in the Netherlands and Germany should definitely drop by. The castle location is unusual, unique and offers plenty of space both indoors and outdoors.

What can I do there?

Pet the castle cat, listen to talks, discuss specialist topics, admire the beautiful lights. The possibilities are endless!

I’m not (yet) familiar with this chaos – am I in the right place anyway?

Yes! Håck ma’s is a great opportunity to get to know the Chaos Bubble and meet new people – whether you’re chilling in the courtyard, wandering around the castle or exploring the Hackcenter. If you like, you can also organise your own talk or workshop at our Barcamp. We’re always happy to welcome people who fancy helping out on the day – it’s a great chance to meet others and is always great fun.

What should I bring?

A sense of fun and curiosity – and we’ve got a packing list for the essentials..

Gibt es einen Veranstaltungschat?

Yes, we have a Matrix chat that anyone can join so that participants can chat with one another. You’ll receive the link after you’ve registered. If you have any questions for the organising team and/or other participants in advance, you can use this chat.

Are pets allowed?

Unfortunately, you are not permitted to bring your own pet. Stray cats living at the castle and assistance dogs are exempt from this rule.

Am I allowed to smoke on the premises?

Yes, smoking is permitted on the premises. Please note, however, that even outdoors this will only be allowed in designated areas.

Is there a photo and video policy?

Yes. You can find further information here: Photo and Video Policy

Do you have a Code of Conduct?

Yes. You can find it here: Code of Conduct

What about accessibility?

We strive to organise an event that as many people as possible can attend. You can find detailed information on accessibility here: Accessibility

Who can I contact on site if I encounter difficulties or problems?

There will be an Awareness Team on site that you can contact if you feel uncomfortable: tbd If you have a physical disability, please contact the CERT: tbd For all other matters or if you are unsure, please feel free to approach the PL: tbd

Will there be a DECT network?

Probably. Details to follow soon.

How do I actually get there (by public transport) to this Void … er, Waldviertel?

We have travel information.

Can I also travel by car?

Yes. However, there will only be a limited number of parking spaces available. We therefore ask you to carpool or travel by public transport. It will be possible to load and unload your car near the castle/campsite; the car park itself is about a 7-minute walk away.

Are the public transport links really as bad as they seem?

No. On the main arrival day (Wednesday), there are several public transport connections. On the main departure day (Sunday), we have organised a hhuttle Service using a coach. You can find the public transport timetable on the ÖBB website (Ottenschlag near Bad Traunstein) (https://fahrplan.oebb.at/webapp/)

What should I do if I miss the last bus on the day of departure?

You can still leave on Monday, when there is also a selection of buses available.

Can I camp at your venue?

Yes. We have a wonderfully idyllic meadow amongst apple trees which is available for camping. Due to the proximity to residential properties, only silent camping will be permitted, and there will be a quiet period from 10 pm to 10 am. There will be no large camping villages at the campsite itself, as these will be located in the inner courtyard.

Can I bring a caravan?

There is a limited number of caravan tickets, which you can purchase with your festival ticket or separately. One ticket is required per caravan. Every person in the caravan also needs an entry ticket.

There is a caravan park in Ottenschlag itself, but it has fewer than 10 pitches, which cannot be reserved.

Can I also sleep indoors?

Yes. There will again be the option to stay overnight in dormitories. There will also be a dormitory directly in the castle, which is exclusively for women, agender, inter, trans* and non-binary people.

Can I also pitch a tent in these indoor areas?

It’s best not to count on it. It is still unclear whether the large dormitories will be big enough. In any case, this will only work with small tents that stand on their own without cords.

I’ve heard there are also rooms in the castle. How do I get one?

There is a limited number of rooms, which are allocated on a needs basis (people with disabilities and/or health conditions, parents with young children). If you would like one of these rooms, please email us at accessibility@hack-mas.at, stating your accessibility requirements and why you would like a room.

Is my choice of accommodation (camping or dormitory) final when I buy my ticket?

No. It is simply to give us an idea of roughly how many people will be staying where. We will ask you again at check-in where you plan to stay. (This does not apply to rooms and caravan pitches)

What are the toilet facilities like?

There are plenty of toilets available in the castle; we will set up portable toilets next to the campsite, and there are also toilets near the dormitory in the school. Several showers (individual cubicles) will be available in the castle. Please note that neither the showers nor the toilets in the castle are wheelchair accessible.

Gibt es Abkühlungsmöglichkeiten?

Are there any places to cool off?

The Upper Ottenschlag Pond is just a seven-minute walk away. A great opportunity for swimming, cooling off or enjoying the local playground. Furthermore, Ottenschlag lies at an altitude of around 850 metres and is therefore, like the Waldviertel region in general, a classic spot for escaping the summer heat.

What’s more, temperatures of 30 degrees struggle to penetrate the thick castle walls, so you can expect comfortable temperatures, particularly indoors.

What about meals?

Anyone familiar with Easterhegg will know about the ‘Eternal Breakfast’, which will also be available here and is included in the ticket price. This time, a hot dinner will also be provided every day. All our meals will be vegan, with some dishes also available as vegetarian options. There is also a Eurospar and a Billa right next to the castle.

Where can I set up my project or large structure?

The castle courtyard is large, but not infinite. If you are planning a larger structure such as an event tent or a dome, please contact kontakt@hack-mas.at by 15 May at the latest. You can find all the details on the infrastructure page.

For smaller projects, there will be several decentralised hack centres and the castle courtyard. Please contact kontakt@hack-mas.at by 15 June for smaller projects and set-ups. You do not need to notify us of very small projects that you can easily transport and place on a table, provided they do not pose any potential hazard.

Will there be a programme of talks?

Participants like you make up the bulk of the programme! You’ll soon be able to add something to Openki, our talk organisation tool (more details to follow soon), or get involved at the Barcamp itself.

Und was ist eigentlich ein Barcamp?

A Barcamp (often also BarCamp; German: Unkonferenz or Ad-hoc-Nicht-Konferenz) is an open conference with open workshops, the content and schedule of which are developed by the participants themselves at the start of the conference and shaped as it progresses.

That all sounds brilliant! How can I help?

We’re looking for people who’d like to help with the set-up! If you can imagine arriving a few days before 26 August to help with the set-up, please get in touch at kontakt@hack-mas.at. If you’re only free for the event itself, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to get stuck in there too!

Is the event definitely going ahead?

If we’ve sold enough tickets by the end of May, the event will go ahead.

Do I really know everything I need to know about this event now?

In typical Chaos fashion, we’ll make sure this FAQ is fully updated in good time. For anything else, you can contact us by email at kontakt@hack-mas.at.