Austria Archives

Conchita Wurst: “I Am Stepping Away from the Eurovision World”

January 13, 2026 by Oscar Diefenthal Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Conchita Wurst announces her departure from the Eurovision world, ending a decade-long association after her landmark 2014 victory and cultural impact. Many Eurovision fans had hoped for the return of Eurovision 2014 winner Conchita Wurst as a host of Eurovision 2026 in her home country, Austria. However, in a recent post shared on social media, the singer made it clear that she does not intend to return to the Eurovision arena in any capacity, effectively dismissing ongoing rumors. Conchita won the contest with the iconic song "Rise Like A Phoenix" and is portrayed as a drag persona by Austrian singer Thomas Neuwirth. The announcement contradicts remarks she made just a week earlier in an interview with the German magazine BUNTE, where she had officially confirmed a return to the Eurovision world, although without specifying in which role. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “The Person I Became – Thanks to Eurovision” In the statement published by Neuwirth...

Austria: Conchita Wurst Confirms Eurovision 2026 Return in Vienna?

January 6, 2026 by Oscar Diefenthal Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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,...

Vienna launches Eurovision 2026 countdown: Thousands of performers join the celebration

December 27, 2025 by Maor Heumann Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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...

Eurovision 2026: ORF Appoints Marvin Dietmann as Head of Contest in Vienna

December 23, 2025 by Oscar Diefenthal Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Austrian national broadcaster ORF has appointed renowned Austrian director Marvin Dietmann as the new Head of Contest for Eurovision 2026. What does the role involve, and whom is he replacing? The Austrian national broadcaster ORF has announced a new Head of Contest for Eurovision. The role has been given to Marvin Dietmann, the Eurovision Song Contest’s Creative Director since 2011 and a well-known director within the competition, responsible for staging numerous successful Eurovision entries. He is also the founder of the company “Motions by Dietmann”, which oversees auditions for singers, dancers, and performers participating in the contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); What Does “Head of Contest” Mean? The Head of Contest plays a central role in implementing the creative staging vision on the Eurovision stage. As part of the position, he works closely with all participating delegations and is responsible for determining the running order of performances during the competition. This is one of the most influential roles...

Austria: Tamara Flores Unexpectedly Withdraws from “Vienna Calling 2026”!

December 18, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austrian-Mexican singer Tamara Flores has announced her sudden withdrawal from “Vienna Calling 2026”. What are the reasons for her surprising withdrawal, and who will replace her? The full story below. About two months before “Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich” airs in Austria, Latin pop singer Tamara Flores has abruptly decided to withdraw from the race for representing Austria at Eurovision 2026. Tamara was supposed to participate with the song “Chingona” (in English: “Tough Girl”), but she decided to step down from the competition due to unspecified personal reasons. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); As confirmed, Tamara’s withdrawal stems from personal matters that have not been detailed. She will be replaced by 35-year-old Austrian singer Sidrit Vokshi, who will perform his emotional pop ballad “Wenn ich rauche” (in English: “When I Smoke”). The song tells the story of heartbreak — a man who spends night after night alone in bars, reopening old wounds from the past. Will he...

Austria: “Vienna Calling 2026” Contestants Revealed!

December 15, 2025 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Austrian national broadcaster ORF announced today the participants of “Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich 2026”, which will determine Austria’s entry for Eurovision 2026. The Austrian national broadcaster ORF revealed today (Monday) the 12 artists who will participate in "Vienna Calling 2026" through which the Austrian entry for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen. Among them are several familiar names within Austria’s music scene. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After a preliminary screening that included over 500 applications, a panel of judges selected artists to progress to the auditions held in November. Today, the “Vienna Calling” contestants and their song titles were officially unveiled. The lineup includes one former contestant, several well-known names, and fresh newcomers. One of the songs has already been published on YouTube, while the others will be released at a later stage. “Vienna Calling 2026” Contestants Anna-Sophie – "Superhuman" Bamlak Werner – "We Are Not Just One Thing" Cosmó – "Tanzschein" David Kurt – "Pockets...

Austria: “Vienna Calling” Participants to Be Revealed on December 16th

December 13, 2025 by Tal Dahan Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Next Tuesday, Austria will unveil the contestants for its 2026 national final “Vienna Calling”. The winner will represent the host country at Eurovision on home soil in Vienna. Austria, host of Eurovision 2026, is also getting ready to select its own entry for the upcoming contest. For the first time in nearly a decade, the national broadcaster (ORF) will hold an open national selection to choose who will represent Austria on home soil. ORF confirmed that more than 500 songs were submitted to the national final “Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich?” (“Vienna Calling – Who Will Sing for Austria?”), covering a wide range of musical styles, languages, and artists. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); On ORF’s FM4 radio, it was announced on Friday that the twelve contestants for the national final will be revealed on December 16th. After an initial screening phase, a jury panel selected the acts that advanced to live auditions...

Eurovision 2026: How Will the Postcards Accompanying the Contest Look Like?

November 20, 2025January 12, 2026 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s national broadcaster ORF reveals how the Eurovision 2026 postcards will look, along with new details about filming, design inspiration, and ticket sales opening soon for Vienna’s contest. Austria’s national broadcaster, ORF, responsible for producing Eurovision 2026, has revealed fresh details about the upcoming contest that will take place in Vienna. Among them are new insights into the postcards that will feature each participating country and artist, describing their creative direction and visual style in detail. The broadcaster also announced the early registration date for Eurovision 2026 tickets — next Monday, November 24th. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Postcards: A New Artistic Vision Originally introduced to maintain broadcast flow and keep viewers engaged while stage crews prepared for the next act, the postcards have become a beloved Eurovision tradition. They draw great anticipation among fans, many of whom eagerly await each year's unique concept. According to ORF’s description, every postcard begins with a shot of the artist receiving a...

CEO of ORF, Ronald Weissman in Jerusalem: “Israel Is an Integral Part of Eurovision”

November 9, 2025January 12, 2026 by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); CEO of the Austrian national broadcaster ORF, Ronald Weissmann visits Jerusalem, met with President Herzog and expressed steadfast support for Israel's participation in Eurovision amid boycott threats and upcoming EBU deliberations. Vienna is set to host the 70th Eurovision celebration this spring, but prior to the event, diplomacy is once again in the spotlight. Austrian national broadcaster CEO Ronald Weissmann arrived in Israel not only to plan for Eurovision 2026 but also to expressly support Israel’s inclusion in the contest. During his visit to the President’s residence in Jerusalem, Weissmann met President Isaac Herzog, broadcaster CEO Golan Yochpaz, and legal advisor Ayala Mizrahi. All attendees highlighted the importance of free expression and cultural independence for public media organizations. Yokhpaz stated, “There is no justification for excluding Israel from Eurovision”, and underlined that the national broadcaster continues to comply with EBU regulations and will persist in doing so. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria Stands with Israel During...

Will Eurovision 2026 Be One of the Biggest in Recent Years?

November 6, 2025 by Ofek Jerassi Comment Closed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2026 could see 41 countries compete in Vienna, making it the largest edition since 2019. Ongoing debates, returns, and possible withdrawals are shaping the final lineup. French Head of Delegation Alexandra Redde-Amiel stated in an interview that Eurovision 2026, to be held in Vienna, could feature 41 participating countries. If confirmed, it would be the largest contest since Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv. However, it’s important to note that this number is not final, as the debate over Israel’s participation remains unresolved, with several countries threatening to withdraw while others are set to return. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Withdrawals and Returns: Who Will Join Eurovision 2026? Israel sits at the center of controversy, and its participation could influence the presence or absence of other countries. Four countries — Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and the Netherlands — have threatened to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to participate. The Netherlands has taken a particularly hard stance, declaring it would not compete...