The race to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria is now down to two official candidate cities: Vienna and Innsbruck. In this article, we break down what each city is proposing as host – from venue capacity to experience and everything in between.
Innsbruck: ‘Together on top’
Innsbruck’s bid comes with the slogan ‘Together on Top’, a nod to both its alpine setting and its collaborative vibe. With just over 200,000 residents, it’s the smaller option, but it’s definitely no stranger to hosting big events. Innsbruck has hosted the Winter Olympics twice (in 1964 and 1976), as well as several European sports championships.
The bid highlights how easy it is to get around the city and points to over 340,000 beds available across the wider Tyrol region. Local officials also mention 23,000 accommodation providers, making it a strong contender despite its size.
The proposed venue is Olympiahalle, a multifunctional arena with space for up to 12,000 spectators, just a 15-minute walk from the city centre.
Vienna: ‘Europe, shall we dance?’
Vienna’s 2026 bid leans into familiarity… and experience. After all, it hosted the Contest back in 2015, following Conchita Wurst’s win the year before. The bid’s slogan is ‘Europe, shall we dance?’ and it proposes heading back to the Wiener Stadthalle, which holds up to 16,000 people and also hosts the annual ATP tennis tournament. Vienna’s selling points? Major transport links, international vibes, and the fact that you can hop on a train to Bratislava in under an hour if accommodation runs tight.
Back in 2015, the city welcomed over 1,300 delegates, 1,700 journalists, and logged 1.3 million overnight stays during May alone.
How the host city will be chosen
Seven Austrian cities initially expressed interest in hosting Eurovision 2026, including St. P̦lten, which ultimately did not submit a formal bid. Vienna and Innsbruck are now the only official candidates. The final host city Рalong with the official dates Рwill be announced by Austrian broadcaster ORF on 8 August 2025.
The journey to Eurovision 2026
The journey to the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest kicked off immediately following JJ’s win in Basel, when Austria’s ORF accepted the rights to host the 70th edition of the contest.
The cities that have expressed their wish to host:
- Innsbruck
- Vienna
- St. Pölten (expressed a desire to host , but didn’t present a formal bid)
The cities that have ruled out hosting:
The Host City for the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be revealed by the EBU and ORF on 8 August.
Which city would you prefer? Will it be Vienna or Innsbruck? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
News source: Vienna City Council, Innsbruck Informiert
Photo Credit: Markus Wache, Olympiaworld Innsbruck. Collage made by That Eurovision Site.
Tim J 
Michelle