Vienna has been officially chosen to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in 2026, as announced by Austria’s public broadcaster ORF and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The event will return to the Wiener Stadthalle, making it the third time the Austrian capital has welcomed Eurovision—after 1967 and 2015.
The contest will take place over three nights in May 2026, with the first semi-final scheduled for 12 May, the second semi-final on 14 May, and the grand final on 16 May.
All three shows will begin at 21:00 CEST, bringing millions of viewers together across Europe and beyond.
Vienna was selected over Innsbruck following a bidding process. The city unveiled its slogan, “Europe, shall we dance?”, when submitting the bid in July.
The campaign aims to present Eurovision as both an entertaining spectacle and a forward-looking event, showcasing Vienna’s cultural vibrancy and commitment to sustainability.
Alongside the announcement of the host city, the EBU introduced a refreshed Eurovision logo, featuring a redesigned heart emblem and a bespoke font named “Singing Sans.”
This marks the first overhaul of the generic logo since 2015 and sets a new visual identity for future contests starting in 2026.
Hosting Eurovision presents a major cultural and economic opportunity for Austria.
While ORF’s programme director acknowledged the high costs—potentially exceeding €30 million—the event also promises a tourism boost, estimated revenues of around €30 million, and global visibility worth hundreds of millions in promotional value.
Preparations now begin in earnest, focused on venue setup, logistics, hospitality, and security. As Vienna gears up for Eurovision 2026, the city looks to deliver a memorable celebration for the music-loving world.
