Conchita Wurst confirms her return to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna? Sparking speculations over whether she will host, appear as a guest, or take another prominent role.
The race to select hosts for Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, Austria, is heating up. Many fans are still hoping that Conchita Wurst, Austria’s Eurovision 2014 winner with “Rise Like A Phoenix“, will take on the role. Yesterday (Monday), Conchita spoke to the German magazine BUNTE and officially confirmed her return to the Eurovision stage but left open the question of her exact role.
Conchita Wurst and the Full-Circle Moment
Despite confirming her participation, Conchita tempered expectations regarding a lead hosting position. When asked in the interview what her role would be, she replied candidly:
“What exactly will I be doing there? I don’t even know myself yet”.
That statement leaves several scenarios open:
- Full hosting role: Negotiations may still be ongoing behind the scenes, with deliberate ambiguity maintained.
- A 2015-style return: A comeback to the iconic Green Room position, as when Vienna last hosted the contest.
- Guest performance: A special on-stage appearance without formal hosting duties.
For many Austrians and Eurovision fans more broadly a Vienna-hosted Eurovision without Conchita would feel incomplete. In 2015, she was part of the hosting team, even if not the main stage presenter. Following Austria’s recent victory by JJ, expectations are high that Conchita will once again receive a place of honor.
Austria’s public broadcaster, ORF, is expected to reveal the official list of hosts in the coming weeks. Until then, one question remains: will the iconic phrase “Good evening, Europe” be spoken by one of Eurovision’s most enduring icons?
JJ Will Not Host Eurovision 2026
JJ, Austria’s Eurovision 2025 winner with the song “Wasted Love“, had also expressed hope of hosting the contest alongside Conchita. Many fans supported the idea. However, in September, the Austrian national broadcaster confirmed that this will not happen.
Nevertheless, JJ will still play a significant role in the event. It has now been revealed that he will perform a brand-new, previously unreleased song on the Vienna stage, as well as a new arrangement of his winning entry “Wasted Love”.
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.
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A writer and content creator with a strong specialization in the Eurovision scene, particularly across Eastern Europe and post-Soviet countries. His work highlights the artistry, storytelling, and cultural variety that define the contest, offering readers a deeper look into both established performers and emerging voices.
As a skilled translator and polyglot, he brings a unique linguistic and cultural understanding to his analysis and coverage..
