Austria’s capital, Vienna, has been officially chosen to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026, organisers announced today.
The decision comes after the Austrian public broadcaster ORF and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) reviewed bids from both Vienna and Innsbruck and found Vienna superior in infrastructure, logistics, and economic viability. This will be Vienna’s third time hosting Eurovision, following previous editions in 1967 and 2015.
The competition will be staged at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena. The semi-finals are set for Tuesday 12 May and Thursday 14 May, with the grand final scheduled for Saturday 16 May.
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Vienna’s Mayor, Michael Ludwig, hailed the selection with pride and pledged an inclusive programme for locals, emphasising the city’s commitment to cultural accessibility. A €22.6 million budget has been allocated for the contest, including a range of free-to-attend public events to ensure widespread participation.
The selection follows Austria’s celebrated win at Eurovision 2025, when JJ’s powerful performance of “Wasted Love” in Basel secured the country’s third Eurovision crown—previous victories came in 1966 and 2014.
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