ESC 2026: Celebration for the whole world in the Happel Stadium – roof or not?

ESC 2026: Celebration for the whole world in the Happel Stadium – roof or not?

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in Austria, and Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium is considered a possible venue. This competition is special because it is the first ESC in Austria since Conchita Wurst won in 2014. Johannes Pietsch alias JJ caused joy with his song “Wasted Love” at the ESC 2025 in Basel and set the course for an exciting event in two years. When exactly Eurovision 2026 will take place has not yet been decided, but one thing is certain: it will be in May 2026, with possible shows on the 12th-14th. May or 19th-21st May, how Eurovisionworld reported.

However, the Ernst Happel Stadium, the largest stadium in Austria, is faced with the problem that it does not have a mobile roof. Vienna is planning an investment of around 100 million euros, a significant part of which is earmarked for the construction of such a roof. However, the roof construction project is encountering resistance from a group of architects and is currently before the Constitutional Court. Therefore, there will be no roof construction until ESC 2026. Nevertheless, the city is optimistic that the stadium can be a worthy venue for the event even without a roof, as with a capacity of around 50,000 spectators it can accommodate twice as many visitors as St. Jakob-Park in Basel.

A clash of cultures

Twelve countries have already expressed interest in taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, and formal registrations must be submitted by mid-October 2025. Tickets are expected to go on sale at the end of 2025. The application process for host cities runs until July 4, 2025, with other cities such as Graz and Innsbruck also showing interest, but the criteria are clear: the event location must be fully equipped and primarily available for at least eight weeks.

The Vienna Eurovision Village offers a cracking festival site for live performances, DJs and public viewing, while the EuroClub is designed for special parties and the official after-parties. This promises a great experience that will delight both fans and participants.

Finally, it should be noted that the countdown has begun for an exciting event in Vienna. Whether with or without a roof, the anticipation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is already palpable. The city of Vienna is full of enthusiasm and it is hoped that the challenges surrounding the roof can be remedied by then. Time will tell whether it will be an unforgettable event that brings people from different cultures together. You can also find more information about this at ORF Vienna.