Vienna Confirmed as Host City for Eurovision 2026
Vienna has officially been named the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, marking the 70th edition of the global music spectacle. The grand final will take place on 16 May 2026 at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena.
The Austrian capital beat Innsbruck to secure the hosting rights, with public broadcaster ORF making the announcement on Wednesday. The semi-finals are scheduled for 12 and 14 May, leading up to what is expected to be a dazzling final showdown.
The hosting rights come thanks to Austria’s victory earlier this year in Basel, Switzerland. Singer JJ, real name Johannes Pietsch, clinched the crown with his genre-bending track Wasted Love, a powerful fusion of techno and operatic vocals.
It will be Vienna’s third time hosting the contest, following its previous stints in 1967 and 2015.
Vienna to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest!
In May 2026, Europe’s biggest music show returns to #Vienna. With world-class venues, vibrant side events, and global reach, the city celebrates unity, creativity & culture at its finest. ✨ #ESC2026 #Eurovision2026 pic.twitter.com/x1RODJhqOe
— Vienna (@_vienna_info_) August 20, 2025
Under the slogan “Europe, shall we dance?”, the Austrian capital highlighted its world-class accommodation, excellent transport system, and cosmopolitan culture.
The city of two million is more often linked with Mozart and baroque elegance, but officials were keen to stress Vienna’s ability to stage large-scale modern events.
The Wiener Stadthalle, with a capacity of 16,000, is no stranger to Eurovision either, it previously hosted in 2015, after Conchita Wurst’s unforgettable victory the year before.
Since its inception in 1955, Eurovision has transformed from a modest song contest into a global pop juggernaut. It launched ABBA into superstardom, boosted the careers of Céline Dion, Cliff Richard, and Olivia Newton-John, and today attracts younger audiences in droves.
The 2025 edition drew 166 million viewers across 37 countries, with record engagement among the 15–24 age group. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram amplified its reach even further.
Eurovision rarely passes without controversy. This year saw protests in Switzerland over Israel’s participation despite the Gaza war. Israel went on to finish second, sparking further debate.
Adding fuel to the fire, JJ initially called for Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision 2026. He later clarified through his record label Warner that he was “sorry if his comments had been misinterpreted.”
Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, meanwhile, branded the event a “queer, left-wing, woke spectacle”, criticising the expense of hosting. Basel is believed to have spent around $40m (£30m) to stage the 2025 contest.
The Austrian capital has a reputation for embracing the Eurovision spirit in unique ways. During the 2015 contest, the city swapped traditional pedestrian lights for symbols depicting same-sex and heterosexual couples, a quirky initiative that proved so popular it remains to this day.
The countdown begins. Vienna promises glitz, controversy, and music that pushes boundaries. The question remains: who will capture Europe’s heart in May 2026?
One thing is certain: Eurovision 2026 in Vienna will be a show the world will be watching.
