The Eurovision Song Contest will return to Vienna on May 16, 2026, the Austrian broadcaster ORF announced on Wednesday. The city won its bid to host the international music spectacle over Innsbruck, which had also applied to stage the event.
Initially, several cities, including Graz, Linz, Wels, and Oberwart, had expressed interest. In the end, only Vienna and Innsbruck formally entered the race. The competition will take place at Vienna’s Stadthalle arena, with the semifinals scheduled for May 12 and 14.
Both cities submitted strong proposals, according to ORF Director General Roland Weißmann. “After thorough evaluation and a unanimous jury decision, ORF concluded that Vienna’s offer was the most attractive in terms of infrastructure, logistics, and finances,” Weißmann said, while also praising Innsbruck for its “impressive concept and strong commitment.”
Vienna will host the contest under the motto “Europe, shall we dance.” Mayor Michael Ludwig said he was proud the city was chosen as the most suitable venue by the European Broadcasting Union and ORF. “We submitted a comprehensive package that includes extensive accommodation capacity, excellent infrastructure, and proven experience hosting international events,” Ludwig noted.
The city has allocated up to €22.6 million for the event. Total costs for the contest have not yet been disclosed.
This will mark the third time Vienna has hosted Eurovision: first in 1967 following Udo Jürgens’ victory, again in 2015 after Conchita Wurst’s win, and now in 2026 after Austria’s JJ brought the contest home with the song “Wasted Love” in Basel.
Innsbruck’s mayor, Johannes Anzengruber, congratulated Vienna and emphasized that it was a strong sign for his city and the Tyrol region that it had competed “on equal footing with the capital until the very end.”
