Vienna leads the survey to ESC 2026: Has the decision made?

Vienna leads the survey to ESC 2026: Has the decision made?

Preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2026 are in full swing, and the Austrians have clear preferences for the venue. Vienna is the clear favorite: A current survey by the TQS market research institute shows that 34% of the respondents prefer the capital as a desired location for the 70th ESC. Innsbruck follows 11%, while Graz lands in third place with 10%. This can be seen from a report by vienna.at

The application deadline for interested cities runs until July 4, 2025. While Wels and Linz have received both 9% of the votes and share fourth place, Oberwart decided not to run for the discontinuation, although 2% of the respondents have shown interest. About 29% of the participants in the survey state that they have no preference for the venue. The decision about the venue will be announced in mid -August 2025, while the final for May 16 or 23, 2026 is planned.

European tradition and competition

The ESC has a long and fascinating story. The event has been organized by the European Radio Union (EBU) since 1956 and has developed into one of the largest music events in the world. In the last issue, which took place in Basel on May 17, 2025, the Austrian representative JJ won the song "Wasted Love" with the song "Wasted Love", which ensured Austria's third title in the history of the competition. This was reported by Statista

The ESC remains a relevant event despite falling ratings. In 2025, around 170 million viewers were won worldwide: inside, which is an increase compared to the previous year. In Germany, 8.55 million people switched on, which was above the values ​​of previous years. The most successful countries at the ESC are Ireland and Sweden, each of which could make seven profits. Austria again showed its music culture in 2025 and remains a serious competitor in this traditional competition.

The current edition of the ESC

During the ESC 2023 in Liverpool, this was the first time that the city was elected as the venue. Liverpool was organized on behalf of Ukraine, which had won the Kalush Orchestra in 2022, although the competition could not take place in Ukraine due to security concerns. The report of Wishlist emphasizes that representatives of the Ukrainian broadcast have been working closely with the BBC in the show to integrate.

The fan base and the international influence of the Eurovision Song Contest are incomparable. With a mixture of tradition and innovation, the ESC remains a highlight in the European calendar and a place of celebration for a wide range of music cultures. All eyes are now aimed at the upcoming decisions, while the anticipation for the event in 2026 is increasing.