Just hours after singer JJ won the Eurovision 2025 grand final with the song “Wasted Love,” Austria is beginning to process its third victory in the history of the contest. Now, a new and intriguing question arises: which city will host Eurovision 2026? As of now, five cities have already announced their intention to submit bids-though two of them have stated they are dropping out of the race.

Wels: Proposing a New Exhibition Hall – But Odds Are Low

The city of Wels, Austria’s eighth largest, has expressed genuine interest in hosting the international contest. According to a statement from the municipality, the plan is to submit a proposal featuring a new exhibition hall, which is set to replace the current “Messe Wels” venue. Wels is located near Linz, one of the country’s major cities.

Despite the enthusiasm, Wels’s chances of making the final list of candidate cities are not high. The main reasons are that the city lacks the significant infrastructure needed to host such a large-scale event, and its accessibility-both in terms of transportation and accommodation-is relatively limited.

Oberwart: The Small City With Big Ambitions

The city of Oberwart, with only about 7,500 residents, is also seeking to host Eurovision. The city’s mayor, Georg Rosner, told the Austrian national broadcaster ORF in an interview: “We believe we meet the requirements for hosting.”

However, Oberwart’s chances of being selected are also slim. The primary reason is that, despite the ambition, the city does not have a venue capable of accommodating the required audience and technical equipment-making it difficult to meet Eurovision’s standards.

Klagenfurt and Salzburg: Withdrawing From the Race

Two other significant Austrian cities have already announced they do not intend to compete for hosting the contest. Klagenfurt admitted it does not have a suitable venue-the existing Wörthersee Stadium would require the addition of a roof, which is not expected to be constructed in the near future. As an open stadium, it does not meet the requirements for a live-broadcast event.

Salzburg, which has previously hosted many major musical events, will also not be submitting a bid. It was announced that Salzburg Arena is unavailable during the Eurovision period, and in any case, does not meet the size requirements for hosting an event of this scale.

Who Remains in the Race?

Currently, these are the cities that have considered or confirmed their intention to submit a bid to host Eurovision 2026:

• Graz

• Innsbruck

• Oberwart

• Vienna

• Wels

Vienna, Austria’s capital, is naturally considered the leading candidate, having last hosted Eurovision in 2015. Innsbruck and Graz are also attracting attention, mainly due to their suitable infrastructure and relatively easy access to airports and hotels.

The final decision is expected in the coming months, as the Austrian national broadcaster will conduct a thorough review of all proposals. The battle for Eurovision 2026 is just beginning-and all eyes are on Austria as it seeks a new global stage.

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.