Austria at Eurovision 2026: Following the victory of JJ at Eurovision 2025 in Basel with the song “Wasted Love”, the Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, has officially begun preparations to host Eurovision 2026. The broadcaster has revealed the core team responsible for producing the event. Most of the senior team members were also involved in the 2015 contest in Vienna, bringing with them proven experience and a deep understanding of the mechanisms behind Europe’s largest music event.

Proven Experience at the Helm

Heading the production will be Michael Krön, a chief producer at ORF, who will serve as the executive producer for the entire project, reporting directly to the channel’s management. Alongside him is Stefan Zechner, who previously served as show producer for the 2015 contest and has led the Austrian delegation since 2011. This duo is widely regarded as highly reputable, raising hopes among Eurovision fans that the upcoming event will replicate the remarkable success of the Vienna production.

The team also includes Daniel Hack as head of production, following his role as financial manager for ORF’s digital news division; Christine Tichy as technical director, who previously worked as deputy production manager for Eurovision 2015; Roman Horacek, communications manager for the Austrian delegation since 2005 and head of communications for the Vienna contest; Iris Keutter, marketing manager whose name is also linked to Austria’s victory in Copenhagen; and Oliver Lingens, who will focus this time on off-stage activities – including side events, the media center, security, and hospitality.

Industry Impact and Expectations for Eurovision 2026

The return of this experienced team has been welcomed within the industry, especially given the logistical, technological, and communications demands of producing Eurovision in a post-Covid era. In conversations with the EuroMix editorial team, it was noted that the combination of operational stability and technological innovation could ensure an exceptional experience – both for viewers at home and for the live audience at the competition venue.

Social media buzz around Austria has already begun, with early betting indicating high expectations for a tightly produced contest that stands out even compared to recent years. According to trends observed in fan communities, ORF is perceived as a reliable and high-quality broadcaster – but one that will also need to innovate and surprise to meet the ever-rising bar of expectations.

Behind the Scenes: Host City Negotiations and Broader Implications

The bidding process to select the host city for the upcoming Eurovision contest will close on July 4th, after which negotiations will begin with the candidate cities – including Vienna, Innsbruck, Graz, Wels, and Linz. The official announcement of the winning city is expected in August, alongside the publication of the final dates for the three competition evenings.

Analysis: Eurovision 2026 as a Platform for Relevance

In terms of international exposure, hosting the contest presents a golden opportunity for Austria – both in tourism and diplomacy. In my experience, the discourse surrounding such an event can reshape the country’s public image, especially when it involves a combination of culture, media, technology, tourism, and broad social engagement.

Eurovision 2026 will also mark the 70th anniversary of the contest, adding significant historical depth – and possibly leading to unique events in the upcoming production.

Austria at Eurovision 2025

JJ, 23, is the opera singer who represented Austria at Eurovision 2025 with the song “Wasted Love”, after being selected internally by the local national broadcaster ORF. JJ won Eurovision in first place after receiving 436 points in the grand final – 258 from the jury, placing first, and 178 from the public, placing fourth. This included 8 points from the Israeli public and 6 points from the Israeli jury.

JJ’s victory marks Austria’s third win in the history of the contest, following the wins of Udo Jürgens in 1966 (“Merci, Cherie”) and Conchita Wurst in 2014 (“Rise Like a Phoenix”).