Vienna has been selected to host the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest after Austria’s entrant JJ secured victory in the 2025 competition with his song Wasted Love in Basel, Switzerland, reports Breaking News.
This will place Vienna in joint fourth position among the cities that have hosted Eurovision the most frequently, sharing the spot with Copenhagen, Malmö, and Stockholm, as Austrian broadcaster ORF takes on hosting duties.
The 70th edition of the Eurovision final is scheduled for May 16 at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle arena, following a competitive city bidding process that evaluated venue quality, infrastructure, and the capacity to accommodate international delegations, fans, and media.
Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “The EBU (European Broadcasting Union) is thrilled that Vienna has been selected as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Vienna’s reputation as one of the most musical cities in the world, and its location in the heart of Europe, makes it the perfect host city for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. The city’s exceptional Stadthalle was a great venue for the 60th contest in 2015 and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming delegations, artists and fans alike back there next May as the world’s largest live music event celebrates 70 glorious years of being united by music. Together with host broadcaster ORF and the city of Vienna we will create a spectacular celebration of music that will reverberate across the world.”
Vienna’s City Hall is set to host the opening ceremony of the event on May 10, and will also serve as the venue for EuroClub, the contest’s temporary nightlife hub, while the adjacent square will be transformed into the Eurovision Village, an outdoor area for public screenings.
Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, added: “In Vienna, we can be proud that our city has been selected by the EBU and ORF as the most suitable host city for one of the world’s largest events. We submitted a convincing overall package with enormous accommodation capacities, excellent infrastructure, and a lot of experience in hosting international events. Additionally, we placed great emphasis on offering numerous Eurovision Song Contest events in public spaces that can be visited free of charge. As the mayor of Vienna, it is very important to me that cultural events are accessible to everyone, regardless of the size of their wallet. As the mayor of Vienna, I am, of course, pleased that Vienna was able to prevail and that Austria can represent itself again next year. We will have a great May together, I am convinced of that.”
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