🇦🇹 ORF confirms Vienna and Innsbruck in final stage to host Eurovision 2026

Austria’s public broadcaster ORF has officially confirmed that Vienna and Innsbruck are the two cities moving forward in the race to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

ORF enters final talks

On 14 July, the EBU published an update confirming that ORF has entered the final stage of discussions with the two candidate cities.

ORF General Director, Roland Weißmann, said:

“With Vienna and Innsbruck, we have two very interesting applications. Both offer the appropriate conditions to host the world’s largest TV entertainment event.”

Eurovision 2026 Executive Producer Michael Krön added:

“Based on the documents, we are now starting negotiations and will take the time to discuss all relevant aspects in detail.”

The bids: infrastructure and slogans

Innsbruck
Carrying the slogan “Together on Top”, Innsbruck’s bid highlights its alpine setting and strong history of hosting international events – including two Winter Olympic Games. The city proposes Olympiahalle as its venue, with space for 12,000 spectators and a location just 15 minutes from the city centre.

Vienna
Its 2026 campaign revives the slogan “Europe, shall we dance?” and focuses on the Wiener Stadthalle, which can hold up to 16,000 people. The Austrian capital emphasises its transport links and logistical capacity.

Following the submission of refined concepts, the final host city for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest will be announced by ORF and the EBU in mid 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 in the race to host are Innsbruck and Vienna. St. Pölten had expressed a desire to host, but didn’t present a formal bid. Other cities such as Ebreichsdorf, Graz, Klagenfurt, Oberwart, Salzburg and Wels and Linz have ruled out hosting.

The Host City for the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be revealed by the EBU and ORF by mid-August.

Which city would you like to see host Eurovision 2026? 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: EBU

Photo credit: Alma Bengtsson / EBU