Thyago Ohana

It all started on an ordinary day while I was walking down the streets of Paris. A couple was stading my way holding up a sign saying ‘FREE HUGS’. I walked towards them. Both hugged me and in silence, we all smiled. As I left them behind after getting my hug, I felt it! The smile that accompanied me for the rest of that day inspired me to start researching about the Free Hugs Campaign.

Back at home, I invited some friends to join me for my first organized experience in the Austrian capital, and this is how the group Free Hugs Vienna was born in the summer of 2013.

From that moment on, hundreds joined us. Together, we offered thousands of embraces in parks, plazas, festivals, and events. Each interaction was unique: some people cried, others laughed, and many walked away lighter than they had arrived. The initiative grew organically, driven by a shared belief in the transformative power of human connection. The group remained active until early 2020.

What follows is a small collection of articles and interviews capturing that journey—one filled with open hearts, spontaneous stories, and a simple, universal truth: sometimes the most powerful connections come without words.