Michael Krön leads ESC 2026: Austria ready for the music event!

Michael Krön leads ESC 2026: Austria ready for the music event!

The preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will take place in Austria in spring 2026, are taking concrete shape. Michael Krön was chosen as the overall manager of the project and will take over the central organization of the event at ORF as executive producer. The team, which already has experience from the successful 2015 event in Vienna, is supported by a strong team of experts.

The ORF has already formed an internal core team that will work intensively on the preparations until the finale in May 2026. These include Stefan Zechner as TV show producer, as well as Daniel Hack as Head of Production. Christine Tichy will be responsible for the technical processing, while Oliver Lingens will coordinate the delegations and side events as Event Manager.

An event at the highest level

Program director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz has promised an event on an international level, and ORF general director Roland Weißmann emphasizes the importance of the team of experts. “We have a great team and will do everything we can to make the ESC 2026 an unforgettable experience,” he said enthusiastically.

When it comes to the question of where the contest will take place, everything is currently still open. Both Vienna and Innsbruck are considered hot contenders. Mayor Michael Ludwig has already confirmed that Vienna is making an offer. But Graz and St. Pölten also don't want to miss the opportunity, while Ebreichsdorf and Oberwart withdrew their applications shortly before the final.

The countdown is running

Host cities have until July 4th to submit their documents and a decision on the venue is expected to be made by August 8th. The 70th edition of the competition could be an even bigger spectacle as interest is high. In June 2025, some cities have already announced their intention to apply, including Graz with the Stadthalle as a possible venue.

• Bestätigte Teilnehmerländer (Stand Juni 2025):
  • Österreich
  • Albanien
  • Dänemark
  • Finnland
  • Deutschland
  • Griechenland
  • Luxemburg
  • Malta
  • Niederlande
  • Norwegen
  • Serbien
  • Spanien
  • Schweiz
  • Vereinigtes Königreich
• Bestätigte Nicht-Teilnehmer:
  • Andorra
  • Belgien
  • Bosnien und Herzegowina
  • Tschechische Republik
  • Lettland
  • Montenegro
  • Nordmazedonien
  • San Marino
  • Slowakei
  • Slowenien

After winning with the song “Wasted Love” by JJ at Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Austria is looking forward to a traditional event that has already taken place in the country in 1967 and 2015. Millions of viewers around the world are watching this spectacle, and the ESC 2026 also has the potential to conquer hearts.

It will remain exciting until the big spectacle begins. Many are hoping for unforgettable moments and first-class music - the anticipation is growing!