Following fans’ outrage: the tour that was planned after Eurovision 2026 has been cancelled! What does this move mean for the EBU?

The celebratory tour across Europe marking 70 years of Eurovision, which was scheduled to take place in June 2026 across the continent, will not go ahead. The EBU announced that the decision followed unexpected challenges that could not be resolved, despite the efforts of the staff, producers and promoters, and those who have already purchased tickets are expected to receive a refund.

Is Eurovision Really Entering a Crisis?

The cancellation comes against the backdrop of a tense atmosphere around Eurovision 2026, after five countries announced they were withdrawing from the festive contest in Vienna because of Israel’s participation. When countries pull out and major events are cancelled, this is no longer just short‑term noise, but a sign that there is a broader problem surrounding the contest, its audience and trust in the brand.

According to a report on Blick’s website, Eurovision director Martin Green said that the decision to postpone the tour was taken with a heavy heart, because of unforeseen difficulties that could not be overcome. The report also claimed that not enough tickets were sold, although the official version of the response did not explicitly state that the cancellation was linked to sales.

Some of the audience who were interested in the shows complained that ticket prices were high. For example, in Zurich the cheapest ticket cost 63 Swiss francs (about 69 Euros). A VIP ticket cost 173 Swiss francs (about 190 Euros), and a standing ticket was priced at 99.90 Swiss francs (about 110 Euros). For comparison, tickets for Eurovision in Vienna were reported to range between 10 and 360 Euros.

Where Was the Tour Supposed to Take Place?

The live tour will begin approximately one month after the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final, which will be held in Vienna on May 16th, following the semi-finals on May 12th and 14th.

The tour was planned to include ten dates in some of the largest arenas in Europe. The venues listed were:

June 15th – London, United Kingdom – O2 Arena
June 17th – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
June 19th – Milan, Italy – Arena Milano
June 20th – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
June 22nd – Antwerp, Belgium – AFAS Dome
June 23rd – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
June 25th – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
June 27th – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
June 29th – Paris, France – Accor Arena
July 2nd – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena

These are arenas that each hold more than 15,000 people. According to the report, only a small portion of the tickets on offer had been sold since sales opened on February 6th, 2026.

Which Past Eurovision Stars Were Supposed to Perform?

The list of artists discussed included several very well‑known names from Eurovision history, remembered mainly for their victories and for songs that have become contest classics:

Johnny Logan: One of the winners most closely associated with Eurovision, an Irish singer who won more than once (1980 and 1987) and is considered a legend among Eurovision fans.
Katrina Leskanich: She was part of the British act Katrina & The Waves, associated with one of the United Kingdom’s most famous Eurovision victories in 1997.
Lordi: A band from Finland remembered for an extraordinary performance and a heavy‑rock style that was uncommon at the time at Eurovision, as well as for their 2006 victory that marked a shift in the contest’s musical style.
Helena Paparizou: A Greek singer who won Eurovision 2005, and whose song is considered one of the most memorable winners of the contest’s modern era.

Alongside these past names, performances were also planned by the ten leading artists from Eurovision 2026, meaning the new participants who were supposed to get an additional stage in front of a large audience this summer. Now, following the cancellation, they are left with an open schedule for other shows.

Despite Everything: Eurovision 2026 in Vienna Goes Ahead as Planned

In parallel with the cancellation of the tour, the organisers continue to project business as usual, and Eurovision 2026 is expected to take place as planned in Vienna on 12, 14 and 16 May. After last year’s victory in Basel by JJ with the song “Wasted Love”, the director of Eurovision Green stressed that the focus remains on producing the contest, marking the 70th anniversary, which will feature 35 artists from 35 different countries in front of the audience in Vienna and hundreds of millions of viewers around the world.

Ultimately, the cancellation of the tour is another sign that Eurovision has, in recent years, been dealing with much more than just a musical production. The big question is whether this is a storm that will pass once the contest ends, or the beginning of a shift that will force the organisers to recalculate the route in the coming years.

Eurovision 2026: the 70th edition of the contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026. The Wiener Stadthalle arena, which will host the event, is expected to accommodate around 16,000 spectators per show. The contest returns to Austria following the nation’s third historic win with the song “Wasted Love”, performed by JJ. It will be Austria’s third time hosting Eurovision, after previous editions held in the country in 1967 and 2015.