Vienna kicks off the Eurovision 2026 countdown with a New Year’s Eve clock reveal and thousands of global artists applying for participation
Vienna has entered the countdown phase toward Eurovision 2026, set to take place in May. Austria’s capital announced that as part of its New Year’s Eve festivities, a large and impressive countdown clock will be unveiled precisely at midnight. It will be displayed on a giant LED screen on the Ringstrasse boulevard, facing the famous Rathausplatz square. The clock will remain on display until the Eurovision Grand Final, while visitors enjoy live performances of iconic Eurovision hits throughout the festival events held at the location.
Creative energy around the competition
Beyond the anticipated clock reveal, enthusiasm for the contest is sparking creativity among artists. According to the Austrian national broadcaster ORF, more than 2,000 dancers and singers from around the world have applied to participate in the stand‑in rehearsals for the upcoming competition.
These sessions simulate each country’s stage performance using local stand‑ins, after delegations send in their stage-direction videos to the production team. The process helps organizers evaluate staging, choreography, and even costume concepts before live rehearsals begin. The simulations take place while contestants remain in their home countries, and later they can request adjustments during technical rehearsals at the Eurovision venue. Out of all applicants, around 650 were invited to audition at Motion Studios – where the stand‑in rehearsals are produced – and only 30 artists will ultimately be selected.
Recruiting volunteers for Eurovision 2026
As part of the extensive preparations, Vienna is also recruiting volunteers – about 800 people will be accepted into the production. ORF is seeking adult volunteers (aged 18 and up) from diverse backgrounds and interests. The key requirements are a solid command of German and English, strong motivation, and the ability to provide friendly assistance in an international environment. The official application process opened on December 1st and will remain available until midnight on January 28th. Anyone wishing to participate in this unforgettable experience can apply through the official website. The selection process is expected to begin soon.
Eurovision 2026: The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, following the country’s victory at Eurovision 2025 with the song “Wasted Love” performed by JJ. The contest will be held at the Wiener Stadthalle, the largest indoor arena in Austria. The semi-finals are scheduled for May 12th and May 14th, with the Grand Final taking place on May 16th. This will mark the third time Vienna has hosted Eurovision, following previous editions in 1967 and 2015.
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Maor Heumann has been writing about the Eurovision Song Contest and following it for over three decades. He has attended five contests and has found something to appreciate in almost every possible musical genre — from the sugary pop entries that finish last in the semi-finals to the quirky avant-garde pieces that even the competition’s juries struggled to connect with. He usually prefers original languages and songs with depth over Swedish-produced English clones — though he doesn’t promise to stick to that rule.
He grew up on the kibbutz of Sara’le Sharon, who instilled in him a love for music and created his first connection to the contest back in 1993 — before most of the current editorial team was even born.
