Eurovision 2026: Austria is looking for a host city for the mega event!

Eurovision 2026: Austria is looking for a host city for the mega event!

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in Austria in May under the motto “United By Music”. It will be the third time that Austria will host this prestigious competition, following editions in 1967 and 2015. However, the exact city for the 70th edition has not yet been decided.

Interested cities and communities can submit their applications to ORF until July 4, 2025 at 12 p.m. There are strict requirements for the host city, which include international connectivity, sufficient accommodation in the region and the ability to host the event safely and sustainably. The venue must be able to accommodate around 10,000 spectators and be available for at least eight weeks for preparations and the event itself. Interested cities include Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Oberwart, Wels/Linz, St. Pölten and Premstätten, while Klagenfurt and Salzburg are excluded.

Application process for the host city

The first phase of the application process is two-stage and begins with an expression of interest. Cities that do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered in the further process. The ORF has not yet announced which cities are actually applying, but the deadlines are clearly defined - early submission can speed up the details of the application, such as the ORF reported.

Austria “won” the ESC 2026 by winning the previous competition. This is a positive development for the country and shows the commitment and anticipation of hosting it again. The 2026 ESC final is scheduled to take place on either May 16th or 23rd and, as always, all active full members of the EBU are invited to take part. Australia will also have a special place as an associated member.

Changes and new regulations

A few interesting innovations are also on the program. An adjustment to the ESC rules includes the starting order in the final as well as changes to the voting and presentation of the Big Five countries; a jury vote will no longer take place in the semi-finals. These changes bring a breath of fresh air to the traditional event, which has been organized annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956 Wikipedia reports.

The anticipation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is now enormous. Ticket sales are expected to start in the fall. It is clear that all major countries will take to the stage again and delight the audience with their musical performances. All the more reason to hope that the best talents from the various nations will give the spectators an unforgettable evening.