The world’s largest music competition will take place in Austria’s capital in May 2026 as the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 70th anniversary. A city synonymous with musical brilliance – from Mozart to modern pop – Vienna provides a spectacular backdrop for this landmark edition of the Contest.
First Semi-Final: Tuesday 12 May 2026, 21:00 CEST
Second Semi-Final: Thursday 14 May 2026, 21:00 CEST
Grand Final: Saturday 16 May 2026, 21:00 CEST
Beyond the Wiener Stadhalle, visitors can explore historical attractions, vibrant districts, neighbouring towns and cities, fan events and unforgettable nightlife, all woven into Eurovision week. Anyone arriving into Vienna for the event can plan their stay via wien.info.
A historical hub for the arts, this will be the third time that the capital of Austria has played host to the Contest, after taking on the honour in both 1967 and 2015, following Austria’s first two Eurovision victories.
35 Participants
35 broadcasters will head to Austria in May to compete in the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Vienna 2026 sees three broadcasters return to the Contest: Bulgaria (BNT), Moldova (TVM) and Romania (TVR).
You can watch all 35 entries on the Official Music Video playlist on YouTube.
The Hosts
Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski will host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.
Hailing from the charming, historical city of Innsbruck in the Alpine east of Austria, Victoria Swarovski is a TV presenter, entrepreneur, model, designer and singer. Not only has she been a long-time host of one of television’s most popular entertainment shows, Let’s Dance, but she has also presented prestigious award shows, too.
From Leoben, a city of immense natural beauty in the central region of Austria, Michael Ostrowski is an actor of film and TV, as well as being a popular presenter who recently won a Romy award for his TV hosting skills.
The Stage
To set the stage for Vienna 2026, ORF is using a concept by Florian Wieder that will preserve the familiar while boldly opening up something new.
At the heart of the stage will be a LED surface in the shape of a curved leaf that forms the centrepiece of the production. A sweeping arc and an elaborate structure complete this spectacular design.
The creative spirit of the Viennese Secession – a pivotal art movement in Austria – lies at the centre of the stage-design concept. And just like that important part of Austria’s cultural heritage did, ORF’s production wants to deliberately break conventions and allow new forms. It’s about courage for renewal, openness to radical creativity and a new freedom of design.
The Eurovision Village
Sunday 10 May – Sunday 17 May
Welcoming the world to Austria, the Eurovision Village will kick off Eurovision week with the Opening Ceremony and the Turquoise Carpet event, taking place on Vienna’s Rathausplatz on Sunday 10 May.
Austrian hospitality at its finest will be experienced at the Eurovision Village, which is going to be open daily from 11:00 CEST until midnight or until the end of the Live Shows. And all three Live Shows which will be broadcast for all to see! Admission is free.
The final day of the Eurovision Village’s Rathausplatz residency will conclude with a programme entitled Thank You Vienna , which will offer locals and visitors the opportunity to reflect on the previous evening’s Grand Final together.
Rathausplatz, right next to Vienna City Hall and the home of the Eurovision Village, is located in the centre of the city and boasts excellent public transport connections, via the subway and tram lines. It is ideally located to serve as the beating heart of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.