The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, Austria’s public broadcaster ORF announced Wednesday.
The contest follows Austrian singer JJ’s victory with “Wasted Love” at this year’s competition in Basel. Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle will host the event in May 2026. ORF said Vienna was chosen for its strong infrastructure, logistical capacity, and economic appeal, beating Innsbruck’s bid.
This will mark Vienna’s third time hosting Eurovision, after 1967 and 2015. Mayor Michael Ludwig welcomed the selection and said the city will spend about €22.6 million ($26.3 million) on Eurovision, including free public events.
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The semi-finals are scheduled for May 12 and 14, with the grand finale on May 16, 2026. JJ, whose winning song combined operatic and techno elements, is Austria’s third Eurovision winner, following Conchita Wurst (2014) and Udo Jürgens (1966). Last year’s contest drew 160 million viewers worldwide.
Source: Agency