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Following Austrian singer JJ’s victory with “Wasted Love” in
Basel this spring, the music competition will be held in May
2026 at the Wiener Stadthalle.
“After thorough examination and based on a unanimous jury
assessment, ORF has concluded that Vienna’s bid is the most
attractive not only in terms of infrastructure and logistics,
but also economically," ORF Director General Roland Weissmann
said.
Innsbruck also applied to host the event. It will be Vienna's
third time as host, following 1967 and 2015.
“As mayor of Vienna, I am naturally delighted that Vienna has
prevailed and will once again represent Austria next year. I am
convinced that we will have a wonderful May together,” Mayor
Michael Ludwig wrote on X.
He added that the city will have a budget of about 22.6 million
euros ($26.3 million) to spend on Eurovision, including on
events related to the contest that are open to all and free of
cost.
“As mayor of Vienna, it is very important to me that cultural
events are accessible to everyone, regardless of the size of
their wallet," Ludwig said.
Eurovision's finale will take place May 16 after the semi-finals
are held May 12 and 14, 2026.
JJ, whose winning song combined operatic, multi-octave vocals
with a techno twist, and who also sings at the Vienna State
Opera, won the contest in May.
JJ, whose full name is Johannes Pietsch, was Austria’s third
Eurovision winner, after Conchita Wurst in 2014 and Udo Jürgens
in 1966. The song contest is always held in the country whose
singer won the competition the previous year.
The last Eurovision song contest, which has been uniting and
dividing Europeans since 1956, was watched by 160 million
viewers.
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