Austria is wasting no time looking back. Just hours after winning the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final, singer JJ-who clinched victory with the song “Wasted Love”-declared that he “feels like a dream has come true.” Now, the first signs are emerging that this dream is set to continue: the Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, has officially announced that preparations for Eurovision 2026-set to be held in Austria-are already underway, unveiling a series of special programs to mark the country’s third win in the contest.

Austrians Move Fast: Work Began Immediately After the Victory Announcement

Immediately after the broadcast ended in Basel, the Austrian national broadcaster ORF confirmed that preparations for the next Eurovision had already begun. A celebratory press conference featuring Roland Weißmann (CEO of the national broadcaster), Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz (Director of Programming), Stefan Zechner (Head of the Austrian Delegation), and singer JJ was held this evening in Vienna at 19:30 (Israel time), right after the Austrian team returned from Basel.

During the night, Roland Weißmann enthusiastically stated: “This love was not wasted; it reached all of Europe and came back with force. Work begins immediately, as does the excitement for the event.”

Live Celebrations – Special Programming to Mark the Achievement

As part of the celebrations, the Austrian national broadcaster will air a series of special programs this evening, starting with a live broadcast from the aforementioned press conference. Later, at 21:15 (Israel time), the program “Victory for Austria” (ESC 2025 – Sieg für Österreich) will be broadcast, where Andi Knoll meets with Conchita Wurst, Teya, and Cesár Sampson to discuss the country’s historic achievement.

At 22:10, the program “My Dream Came True – JJ at Eurovision 2025” (Mein Traum wird wahr – JJ beim ESC 2025) will air, following the Austrian singer’s journey to his grand victory on the stage in Basel.

Viewing Figures: Austria Enthralled – Public Excitement for Eurovision

Around 1.135 million viewers in Austria watched the live broadcast of the Eurovision final at its peak, between 22:52 and 23:36 (Israel time). It was the most-watched program on Austrian television that day, with a massive 63% audience share-an especially impressive achievement in a country where Eurovision has been hugely popular since 2015, the last time the contest was held on Austrian soil.

The Road to the Next Eurovision: Where Will Eurovision 2026 Be Held?

Now, with the Austrian team back in Vienna, the national broadcaster will begin the process of selecting a host city for the next contest. According to the official statement, discussions will take place with various cities across Austria in the coming weeks to determine which will host the 70th edition of Eurovision-a contest that received exceptional attention this year due to the political tensions surrounding the event and Israel’s participation.

Austria at Eurovision 2025

“Wasted Love” is the song performed by JJ, representing Austria that won Eurovision 2025 on May 17th in Basel, Switzerland, The song was written by the singer, whose full name is Johannes Pietsch, alongside Thomas Turner and Teya, Austria’s representative at Eurovision 2023 with Salena and their song “Who The Hell Is Edgar?“. The song is performed in English.

The lyrics explore the pain and loss of unrequited or unfulfilled love. JJ describes himself as an “ocean of love,” while the object of his affection fears “drowning” in his emotions and chooses to pull away. The song conveys abandonment, depicting a struggle to hold onto a connection that ultimately leaves him adrift in emotional turmoil, unable to reclaim what was lost.

 

JJ – Who Are You?

Johannes Pietsch, or JJ, is a 23-year-old Austrian opera singer with a soprano voice type. Raised in Dubai, he previously participated in The Voice UK in 2020, impressing judges with his high voice. JJ also took part in the series Starmania 21 and currently performs at the Vienna State Opera.