Austria is setting new records! A member of the Eurovision selection committee revealed an unprecedented 460 entries and shared the surprising language trend among the submissions.
Austria is gearing up to host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, as the national broadcaster ORF launches its first open national selection in a decade. Titled “Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich?” (Vienna Calling – Who Sings for Austria?), the competition will determine who will represent Austria on home soil.
Record Response to Open Call
To ensure the best possible result, ORF assembled an experienced committee including TV hosts Eberhard Forcher and Peter Schreiber, alongside Cesár Sampson, Austria’s 2018 Eurovision representative, who joined to assist with the talent search.
An hour before the submission window closed, Forcher posted an excited update on Facebook revealing a record-breaking response: around 400 songs were submitted independently, while an additional 60–70 were gathered by the committee itself — more than 460 in total! Forcher noted that this number matches the cumulative total of submissions received throughout his ten years on the committee, marking a historic surge in Austria’s music scene around Eurovision.
Emphasis on Quality and Language Diversity
“Of course, our focus is more on quality than quantity,” Forcher clarified, before adding with optimism: “This year, we truly have a rich variety to choose from.”
He shared that roughly two-thirds of the submissions are in German or local dialects — an intriguing shift that could indicate Austria’s interest in performing in its native tongue this year.
Offering a glimpse into the style mix, Forcher wrote: “Some songs are weird, some heavy, others have punk influences, or global and heartfelt sounds… there are several surprises — and even a few familiar names.”
The Final Stretch: 12 Artists to Compete
The committee now faces the challenge of narrowing the field. Twelve artists will advance to the live final, where the winner will be chosen through a combination of jury and public votes. The grand final on February 20 will air live on ORF 1, where Austria’s representative will be selected to perform on home ground at Eurovision 2026.
Austria at Eurovision 2025
JJ, a 23-year-old opera singer, represented Austria at Eurovision 2025 with the song “Wasted Love“, after being internally selected by the national broadcaster ORF. JJ won Eurovision, finishing in first place with 436 points: 258 from the juries, ranking first, and 178 from the public, ranking fourth. Among these were 8 points from the Israeli public and 6 points from the Israeli jury.
JJ’s victory marks Austria’s third win in Eurovision history, following Udo Jürgens in 1966 with “Merci, Cherie” and Conchita Wurst in 2014 with “Rise Like a Phoenix”.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Austria’s 58th participation in Eurovision. Austria joined the competition in 1957 and has won three times over the years. Austria’s last victory was in Eurovision 2025 with the song “Wasted Love” performed by singer JJ.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
Tal Dahan – Journalist, radio broadcaster, and Eurovision content creator.
Tal Dahan is an Israeli journalist and editor specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest, working with the EuroMix editorial team for four years. Since 2022, she has provided regular on-site coverage of Eurovision from the host city, and from 2023 has also reported directly from the press room—offering the Israeli audience live updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth commentary.
Tal is a member of the Eurovision tribute and parody band “EuroFalsh,” a radio broadcaster, and a student of political science and communications.
She is considered one of Israel’s leading young Eurovision experts. In addition to covering the main contest, Tal has reported from Eurovision pre-parties and national selection events across Europe (in Thessaloniki, Stockholm, Madrid, and more), been interviewed by major media outlets in Israel and internationally, and presented Eurovision-themed podcasts and radio shows.
