Vienna Selected to Host Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Vienna has been selected to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in 2026, marking the city's third time as host and returning the contest to a capital city after several years of smaller cities hosting. The grand final is scheduled for May 16, with semi-finals on May 12 and 14, to be held at the Wiener Stadthalle, the largest arena in Austria. Vienna won the hosting rights following Austria's singer JJ's victory at Eurovision 2025 in Basel and prevailed over Innsbruck, which also bid to host the event. The Viennese bid featured the slogan "Europe, shall we dance?", evoking the city's famous ball traditions, while Innsbruck's bid highlighted its alpine scenery. Hosting Eurovision is expected to boost Vienna's economy, raise its international profile, and attract tourists, continuing the trend seen in other host cities. ORF, Austria's public broadcaster, and the European Broadcasting Union are preparing for what promises to be an extraordinary 70th edition of the contest.