Austria’s national broadcaster ORF has unveiled the first visual concept for the Eurovision 2026 stage, taking place in Vienna, Austria on May 12, 14, and 16
The build-up to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria is gathering pace, with the official reveal of the stage design. To mark the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, ORF is once again turning to the concept of German‑Jewish stage designer Florian Wieder, who has created no fewer than nine previous Eurovision stages. At the heart of the new design stands a curved leaf‑shaped LED platform, which serves as the central production element, complemented by a sweeping arch and a complex structural framework that complete the striking look.
The German‑Jewish designer Florian Wieder, regarded as one of the leading stage designers in the world, has created dozens of sets for major award shows and television productions worldwide, including X Factor, American Idol, MTV award shows and nine previous Eurovision stages (among them Eurovision 2019 in Israel and Eurovision 2020, which was ultimately cancelled due to the Covid‑19 pandemic). The newly unveiled concept marks his tenth stage design for the contest.
Vienna Secession as key inspiration
At the core of the stage concept stands the “Vienna Secession” – a modern artists’ movement of painters, architects and musicians who resigned from the Association of Austrian Artists in protest against its exclusive support for traditional artistic styles. In a similar spirit, the ORF production explicitly aims to break conventions and open up space for new forms. It is about the courage to innovate, openness to radical creativity and a fresh design language.
Three central design motifs are meant to convey this idea to Eurovision viewers:
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The leaf: A symbol of roots and potential, representing new beginnings and shared creation, where diverse music from across Europe “takes shape” and is written.
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The curved line: A visual representation of resonance, development and musical movement, embodying connection, emotion and a touch of Viennese magic.
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The structure: A golden architectural frame linking art and functionality, creating order, supporting the artistic vision and deliberately contrasting with the organic, curved lines.
The Green Room will be directly connected to the main stage via a walkway, enabling, among other things, a “winner’s walk” through the audience. The combination of these elements results in a stage concept that preserves the core DNA of Eurovision while simultaneously opening a new chapter of creative innovation.
Hollywood‑style direction and cameras
Michael Kögler and Robin Hofwander will serve as lead directors for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. The directing team plans to draw inspiration from Hollywood‑style live shows when bringing the performances to screen. For the first time in Eurovision history, innovative Arri cameras will be used, giving the broadcast an elegant, cinematic look. This visual approach has recently been employed in the live productions of artists such as Coldplay, Taylor Swift and Billy Joel.
Theme music inspired by Mozart
Dorothee Freiberger and Martin Gellner have re‑arranged selected themes from the opera “The Magic Flute” by Austrian composer Mozart for the Eurovision 2026 theme music. Orchestral power will meet contemporary musical structure, creating a powerful connection between classical symbolism and a modern musical language, performed by the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Award‑winning lighting design
The visual energy of the live shows will be shaped by lighting designer Tim Routledge. He joins the Vienna 2026 production after working on the lighting for Eurovision 2025 in Basel and Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool – work that earned him a BAFTA award.
Eurovision 2026: The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Austria, following the country’s third historic win with the song “Wasted Love” performed by JJ. This will be the third time the contest is hosted in Austria, after 1967 and 2015.
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Ofek Jerassi is an Israeli reporter, editor, content creator, and commentator, specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has developed his extensive expertise since childhood, becoming a close follower of the contest. For the past three years, he has served as a writer and editor for EuroMix—Israel’s largest Eurovision website and one of the world’s leading platforms in the field, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Ofek covered Eurovision 2025 on-site in Basel from the press center in the host city, providing EuroMix readers with firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and exclusive reactions from the audience, artists, and experts. His in-depth knowledge and broad familiarity with the Eurovision world are evident in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
In his personal life, Ofek is a medic and avid traveler. He writes out of a genuine love for Eurovision, placing strong emphasis on credibility, professional commentary, and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
