Austria Officially Supports Israel’s Participation in Eurovision 2026

Austria Officially Supports Israel’s Participation in Eurovision 2026

by Noy Yehoyada Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s ORF and governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner back Israel’s Eurovision 2026 participation, opposing boycott threats and affirming Vienna’s role as host. The board of directors of Austria’s national broadcaster, ORF, voted by majority in favor of Israel’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The decision, taken on Thursday, follows a public statement by ORF CEO Ronald Weissmann, who said he "hopes to see Israel participate in the contest". This endorsement is considered crucial, especially against boycott threats voiced by Slovenia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and other countries. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Political Support from Austria for Israel The decision by ORF is more than a symbolic move—it represents a concrete stance within the contest itself, positioning Austria, the host country, as a firm ally of Israel amid growing boycott calls. Substantial reinforcement came from Lower Austria’s governor, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, who not only joined in support but also openly opposed boycott threats from other states. Her involvement underscores Austria’s...
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The Host Aims for a Double: Austria’s Eurovision 2026 Entry to Be Selected on February 20th

The Host Aims for a Double: Austria’s Eurovision 2026 Entry to Be Selected on February 20th

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria will pick its Eurovision 2026 act during the national final “Vienna Calling” on February 20th, through combined jury and public votes from 12 finalists. After the victory of JJ at Eurovision 2025, Austria has begun preparations for choosing its representative for Eurovision 2026, set to take place in its capital, Vienna, on May 16th. The national broadcaster ORF has announced that the show “Vienna Calling – Who Will Sing for Austria?” will be held on February 20th, 2026, and broadcast live on ORF1. The selected act will be decided jointly by the jury and the public, from among 12 chosen candidates who will perform on that evening. The submission window has already opened and will close on October 15th, 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Rules for Participation According to ORF, the rules governing participation include: Songs must not have been commercially released or performed before September 1st, 2025 (including live shows or publication...
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Austria: JJ Will Not Host Eurovision 2026 In Vienna!

Austria: JJ Will Not Host Eurovision 2026 In Vienna!

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria in Eurovision: Eurovision 2025 winner JJ will not host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. Instead, he was given a different role in the show. The singer JJ, Austria’s Eurovision 2025 winner with the song “Wasted Love”, who became a controversial figure at home after remarks about Israel’s participation in the contest, will not host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. Many fans had hoped the reigning champion would be given the honor of hosting the next contest, but today it was officially confirmed that this will not happen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); It should be recalled that after his victory, JJ sparked uproar when he declared in an interview: “I hope the competition next year will take place in Vienna – without Israel”. He also criticized the Eurovision voting system, calling for more transparency from the EBU - a move seen by many as hypocritical, since the competition is meant to be apolitical. Despite this, many fans expressed disappointment that JJ will not be hosting Eurovision 2026....
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Eurovision 2026: Auditions Open for Stand-In Singers and Dancers

Eurovision 2026: Auditions Open for Stand-In Singers and Dancers

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Auditions for the Eurovision 2026 stand-in shows in Vienna will be held December 19th-20th. Apply for singer or dancer roles by December 14th Auditions for singers, dancers, and performers for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria, will take place on December 19th-20th. Successful candidates will perform in the stand-in shows, where local artists present previews of each act’s stage performance to delegations before the competing artists arrive for rehearsals two weeks later. Some of the selected performers may also take part in the live shows. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The auditions are managed by Motions by Dietmann, founded by Marvin Dietmann, who has served as Eurovision’s creative director since 2011. Professional singers can submit their applications here, while professional dancers can apply here. The deadline for all submissions is December 14th. The 2015 Team Returns to Lead Eurovision 2026 Heading the production of Eurovision 2026 is Michael Krön, the executive producer from the Austrian national broadcaster ORF. He will oversee the...
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Austria Opens Song Submissions Window for Eurovision Pre-Selection 2026

Austria Opens Song Submissions Window for Eurovision Pre-Selection 2026

by Tal Dahan Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ahead of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, the Austrian national broadcaster ORF has launched the open song submission window for the national selection. The winner will represent Austria on home soil.  Austria is energetically preparing for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on its territory—not only in terms of hosting, but also regarding the next song that will represent it in Vienna. For the first time in a decade, Austria’s representative and entry will be chosen via an open national selection, set for late February 2026 and featuring both jury and public voting. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s National Selection Returns in 2026 In an Instagram post, Hitradio Ö3 of the Austrian national broadcaster ORF confirmed that the song submission window for Eurovision 2026 is now officially open. Austria will use this open selection format for the first time since 2016. A total of ten contestants will be selected to perform on stage, with the winner granted...
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So Where Will We Celebrate Eurovision 2026 in Vienna?

So Where Will We Celebrate Eurovision 2026 in Vienna?

by Noy Yehoyada Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Vienna, Austria’s capital, will host Eurovision 2026 for the third time. Beyond the main event in Wiener Stadthalle, parties and celebrations will unfold in several historic city locations. With the announcement of Vienna as the host city for Eurovision 2026, more details have been revealed about the venues for concerts, official events, and Eurovision parties. To make it simple, here is a clear and structured overview of all the key information. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Main Venue: Wiener Stadthalle The central event will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena, with a capacity of around 16,000 spectators. This iconic venue also hosted Eurovision in 2015 and will once again welcome thousands of visitors during May 12–16. The live shows include the semifinals on May 12 and 14, and the Grand Final on May 16. This will mark the first time since 2018 that a host nation’s capital city also hosts Eurovision. The...
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Vienna Chosen as Host City of Eurovision 2026!

Vienna Chosen as Host City of Eurovision 2026!

by Neta Geffen Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Vienna has officially been selected to host Eurovision 2026 in Austria. When will the contest take place, and in which venue? All the full details about Eurovision 2026 are here! The bidding process for selecting the host city of Eurovision 2026 has concluded: the EBU, together with the Austrian national broadcaster ORF, announced today that Vienna will host next year’s contest in Austria! Eurovision 2026 will mark the 70th edition since the competition’s establishment in 1956. Watch the official city reveal video:   (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Vienna Wins the Host City Bid Vienna secured the right to host the contest next year, after surpassing Innsbruck’s proposal. This will be Austria’s third time hosting Eurovision, following the victory of JJ at Eurovision 2025 held in Basel, Switzerland, this past May. For Vienna, this will be the city’s third time hosting the contest, after previously welcoming the contest in 1967 and 2015.  The chosen venue for 2026 is the Wiener Stadthalle.  the arena can host...
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Austria’s Eurovision Journey: From Udo Jürgens to Conchita Wurst and JJ

Austria’s Eurovision Journey: From Udo Jürgens to Conchita Wurst and JJ

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); From failures to history-making success: The dramatic story of Austria at Eurovision, marked by determination and three wins - Udo Jürgens, Conchita Wurst, and JJ. In May 2026, Austria will be at the center of worldwide attention as it hosts the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest - celebrating the rich legacy of an event that began in 1956. After more than a decade, the competition returns to Austria, energized by the outstanding opera singer JJ, who captivated audiences and won first place at Eurovision 2025 with his hit "Wasted Love". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s Early Days at Eurovision (1957–1968) Austria first joined Eurovision in 1957, but its debut proved challenging - Bob Martin, with the song “Wohin, kleines Pony”, finished in last place. Following several middling performances, Austria turned to Israeli singer Carmela Corren to represent the country in 1963 with "Vielleicht geschieht ein Wunder". Although Corren was the first Israeli...
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Eurovision 2026: Production Team Announced to Lead the Contest

Eurovision 2026: Production Team Announced to Lead the Contest

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Preparations are underway: Austrian national broadcaster ORF officially unveils the core team for Eurovision 2026 in Austria. Here is an inside look at the production, technological innovation, and key figures behind the scenes. The Austrian national broadcaster ORF has recently finalized the core team that will oversee the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled to take place in Austria in May 2026. With the appointment of three new key figures - a Head of Commercial Affairs, a Technical Production Manager, and an Executive Assistant - the path is set for an event expected to captivate millions of viewers across Europe and around the world. The contest, which has evolved in recent years into the continent’s premier cultural event, already promises new standards, a contemporary vision, and a fierce competition for record-breaking ratings. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Contest in Europe's Heart: Behind-the-Scenes Production Insights Forming the professional team is not only a critical...
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Duncan Laurence Breaks Record: “Arcade” Is Eurovision’s Most-Streamed Song

Duncan Laurence Breaks Record: “Arcade” Is Eurovision’s Most-Streamed Song

by Noy Yehoyada Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); With over 1.4 billion Spotify streams, "Arcade" leads Eurovision’s all-time charts - discover the the top songs dominating global Spotify and YouTube play counts. The song "Arcade" by Dutch artist Duncan Laurence, the Eurovision 2019 winner, has become the most-streamed song in Eurovision Song Contest history, exceeding 1.4 billion Spotify streams. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); From TV Event to Streaming Powerhouse: The Evolution of Eurovision Recent data confirm Eurovision’s transformation from a contest evaluated by juries and public voting into an international sensation measured by streams, views, Instagram Reels, and TikTok content. For nearly a decade, releasing a Eurovision song has been a full-scale digital marketing endeavor - Spotify plays, Instagram trends, and YouTube views now play a role as significant as the live performance itself. Duncan Laurence has set an almost unreachable standard for future contestants. Close behind is "Snap" by Armenian artist Rosa Linn, which has accumulated more than 1.2 billion Spotify streams - even though it finished only 20th in...
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