The Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, winner of Eurovision 2025, has begun preparations to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2026—the 70th anniversary of Europe’s largest music event. Yesterday, a formal meeting took place in Vienna between ORF management and a delegation from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), led by Thomas Ramstorfer, a key figure in Austrian Eurovision productions. During the meeting, ORF representatives emphasized their commitment to a world-class production: “We at ORF have committed to hosting an Eurovision in 2026 that fully meets the standards of the world’s biggest TV entertainment show.”

Host City Still Undecided—Vienna and Surrounding Areas in Focus

Despite Austria’s victory, the host city has yet to be determined. ORF is still considering various options, with Vienna and nearby cities as frontrunners. The meeting covered logistics, broadcast infrastructure, audience experience, and required technological standards—all aimed at ensuring a smooth and impressive event that continues Austria’s tradition of successful Eurovision hosting.

The meeting between ORF and the EBU marks the official kickoff of a particularly complex logistical production, given the high expectations for Eurovision’s 70th anniversary. In recent years, hosting has become a fierce competition among cities for prestige, investment, and global attention. Austria already demonstrated its capabilities in 2015, but this time the challenge is even greater—with a focus on innovation, massive audiences, and cutting-edge television production.

Eurovision’s Broad Impact: Cultural, Economic, and Technological Power

Eurovision has evolved in recent years into much more than a song contest—it is a major cultural and economic event, attracting hundreds of millions of viewers, artists, creators, and tourists from around the world. For Austria, hosting the contest is a rare opportunity to upgrade infrastructure, promote local culture, boost tourism and the economy, and present the country as a modern, open global power. The contest is expected to attract around 200 million viewers worldwide and generate over a billion social media views—figures that highlight the brand’s strength. Alongside these opportunities, candidate cities must meet strict standards for security, sustainability, and technology—areas that have become critical for the EBU in recent years.

The host city will be announced on August 8, 2025, after cities submit their bids by July 4. While excitement is high, the process is also accompanied by a political backdrop: JJ’s victory with the song “Wasted Love” sparked media controversy due to his contentious remarks about Israel, but ORF stresses that these disputes will not affect the production—“Now is the time to focus on music and the European celebration.”

Experiences, Trends, and Statistics: Eurovision as a Mirror of Change in Europe

From conversations I’ve had with Eurovision fans who attended in Vienna, it’s clear that the level of hosting and production was among the best the contest has seen in recent years. Each edition seems to raise the bar anew—especially in terms of production and technology. This year, technical and logistical demands continue to rise, requiring cities to showcase top-tier innovation.

Austria’s central challenge will be to balance tradition and innovation, cultural celebration and adherence to contest rules, and national pride with European openness. Vienna’s experience from 2015, combined with strong public enthusiasm, offers a significant advantage—but also sets exceptionally high expectations.

The following cities and towns have announced that they are considering or planning to submit a bid to host Eurovision 2026:

• Ebreichsdorf – A town located close to Vienna, mainly known for its equestrian centers.

• Graz – Austria’s second-largest city, the capital of Styria, with a rich cultural tradition and advanced performance venues.

• Innsbruck – The capital of Tyrol, a picturesque mountain city best known for hosting the Winter Olympics and modern sports facilities.

• Linz & Wels – Two neighboring cities in Upper Austria, offering together large performance venues, hotels, and advanced transportation infrastructure.

• Oberwart – A relatively small town in southeastern Austria, but with an innovative convention and event center.

• St. Pölten – The capital of Lower Austria, a modern city with convenient public transport and state-of-the-art performance halls.

• Vienna – Austria’s capital and largest city, home to Wiener Stadthalle – one of Europe’s largest and most advanced performance venues, which previously hosted Eurovision in 2015.

Generally, large cities – especially Vienna – are considered the leading candidates due to their advanced infrastructure, high hotel capacity, and proven experience hosting international events. However, in recent years, Eurovision has seen a trend toward smaller and medium-sized cities also getting a chance, reflecting a desire to spread the economic and cultural impact across the country.

In 2015, when Austria last hosted Eurovision, Vienna was chosen as the host city, but Graz and Innsbruck also competed for the title. This time, the race may be even tighter, especially with the entry of cities such as Linz, Wels, and Oberwart, which are seeking to present an innovative and efficient alternative.

Austria to Host Eurovision for the Third Time

This will not be the first time that Eurovision is held in Austria:

Eurovision 1967 – Vienna, Großer Festsaal der Wiener Hofburg

In 1967, the 12th Eurovision Song Contest took place in Vienna, the capital of Austria, following the country’s victory the previous year. The event was held at the Großer Festsaal der Wiener Hofburg – the grand ballroom of the historic Hofburg Palace, one of the most impressive and symbolic buildings in the city center. The palace, which previously served as the residence of the emperors of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is considered an important cultural site and a hub for state events. The hall itself features high ceilings, classical ornamentation, and an elegant atmosphere, accommodating hundreds of spectators in an intimate and sophisticated setting. Eurovision 1967 was the last contest to be broadcast in black and white, and the event had a festive and stately character, emphasizing Vienna’s tradition and history.

Eurovision 2015 – Vienna, Wiener Stadthalle

In 2015, after Conchita Wurst’s victory, Vienna once again hosted Eurovision – this time at Wiener Stadthalle, a large and modern performance venue in the west of the city. The main hall (Hall D) of the complex can accommodate approximately 16,000 spectators and is equipped with some of Europe’s most advanced lighting, sound, and production systems. During Eurovision, a massive stage was installed, press areas, VIP zones, and experiential fan areas were built, and the entire venue was transformed for the event. The city celebrated with dozens of side events, public viewing areas, and a variety of activities for visitors and fans. The event was considered one of the most ambitious in the contest’s history and highlighted Vienna’s ability to host international events to a high standard.