Vienna is applying for ESC 2026: The capital’s big comeback!

Vienna is applying for ESC 2026: The capital’s big comeback!

On July 3, 2025, Mayor Michael Ludwig submitted Vienna's application for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. This application not only highlights the city's experience in hosting large events, but also emphasizes its excellent accommodation capacity, transport connections and cosmopolitanism. Sustainability plays a central role as no new infrastructure is required for the event, which is considered a positive aspect. Ludwig emphasizes Vienna's suitability as a host and points to successful experiences from the past, in particular the ESC 2015, which was watched by around 170 million people in 40 countries.

Vienna already hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015 and set new standards in the hospitality sector. City Councilor for Economic Affairs Barbara Novak praises the economic stimulus that such an event brings and the opportunity to present Vienna as a world stage. The city offers over 80,000 beds in 41,000 rooms in 433 hotels, which is 26 percent more than in 2015. The transport connections couldn't be better: Vienna is the best rail-connected city in Europe, with 16 final destinations that can be reached from here by night trains. The city can also be reached by direct flight from 195 destinations in 65 countries. A public transport network of over 1,000 kilometers makes accessibility easier.

Diversity of candidate cities

Preparations for the ESC 2026 are already in full swing. The event traditionally takes place in May in Austria, and this is the third time the competition has been held in the country, after 1967 and 2015. The winner of the ESC 2025 in Basel, JJ, who won with the song “Wasted Love”, has already expressed his support for Vienna as the host city. The ORF will send invitations to apply to all federal states and interested cities from May 26, 2025. Interested cities include Graz, Innsbruck, St. Pölten and Oberwart, while Salzburg and Klagenfurt have decided not to apply due to infrastructure and budget constraints.

The ESC 2026 will include two semi-finals and a grand final. Ticket sales are expected to begin in early 2026 once the final venue is determined. Official tickets will then only be available via authorized platforms. In addition to the bid for the main event, Vienna is planning to set up an additional open-air fan mile along the Danube Canal, which will further enrich the offering for fans.

Economic impact and preparations

Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest involves high costs, but it also brings great benefits for the local economy. ORF General Director Roland Weißmann announced that preparations will begin immediately. Culture Minister and Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler was pleased with the victory and the return of the song contest to Austria after no event took place here since 2015. Babler emphasized that discussions about organization and financing are already underway.

The application phase and the announcement of the final venue will be completed by July 2025. It remains exciting to see whether Vienna will again have the honor of acting as host city and continuing the success story of the previous event. The first preparations have already been made and the city is ready to make the event an unforgettable experience again.

For more information about the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, the links below can be visited: Vienna press, ESC Vienna 2026, The standard.