New EU public procurement thresholds effective 1 January 2026
Austria has announced the updated European Union thresholds for public procurement contracts (supplies, services, works) that apply from 1 January 2026 onwards. These thresholds determine when formal tendering procedures become mandatory.
What changed
The Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice has published new procurement thresholds set by the European Commission for 2026–2027. These thresholds apply to public supply contracts (140,000–432,000 EUR depending on buyer type), service contracts (140,000–432,000 EUR), works contracts (5,404,000 EUR), and concession contracts (5,404,000 EUR). The thresholds replace the previous ones and take effect on 1 January 2026.
Who is affected
Public authorities and utilities (government agencies, hospitals, schools, water companies, transport operators) that award supply, service, works, or concession contracts must use the new thresholds to decide whether open tender procedures are required. Private companies bidding for public contracts should be aware of the new values when determining which tenders they are eligible for.
What to look out for
Contracts valued at or above the relevant threshold must follow formal EU procurement rules; below the threshold, simpler national rules may apply. Verify which threshold applies to your contract type and buyer category. The thresholds are binding from 1 January 2026 even if your contract was initiated earlier.