Vienna Confirmed as Host of Eurovision 2026
Vienna has officially been named the host city for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, with the final set for 16 May 2026 at the Wiener Stadthalle.
The Austrian capital, which last staged the competition in 2015, beat rival bids – including popular Innsbruck – to secure the honour.
The announcement follows Austria’s victory in Basel, Switzerland, earlier this year, where 24-year-old JJ (Johannes Pietsch) took the crown with his operatic-techno track, “Wasted Love”. The win gave his home nation its third Eurovision triumph, after Conchita Wurst in 2014 and Udo Jurgens in 1966.
The central European country’s public broadcaster, Osterreichischer Rundfunk, praised Vienna’s facilities and economic advantages, while Mayor Michael Ludwig celebrated the news, posting on Twitter/X: “Our city is ready to welcome Europe with open arms.”
However, the run-up is not without controversy: JJ sparked debate after calling for Israel to be excluded from next year’s contest, remarks that drew criticism domestically. Meanwhile, Austria’s right-wing Freedom Party condemned Eurovision as a “queer, left-wing, woke spectacle” and questioned the expense of hosting the competition.
Despite the political noise, organisers say the 2026 edition promises to be a spectacular celebration of music, marking seven decades of the contest’s history.
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