After several years of internal selections, ORF has announced that Austria will once again let the public decide.
A big TV night returns
For the first time since 2016, Austria will use a televised national final to select its act for Eurovision 2026. The news was confirmed by ORF’s Programme Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz in an interview with Kurier, where she stated:
“There will once again be a national selection show after a long break. A big TV evening with lots of audience participation.”
Further details – including the exact date and format of the show – have not yet been revealed.
As Austria prepares to host the Contest in 2026, public engagement appears to be a growing focus for the broadcaster.
Austria’s Eurovision Journey
In 1957, Austria made their debut into the Eurovision Song Contest, where Bob Martin represented the landlocked nation with the song “Wohin, kleines Pony?”. At the close of voting, it managed to place 10th overall. Since their debut, Austria has participated 56 times (being in the final 49 times), and have won the competition on two occasions in 1966 and 2014.
For 2025, JJ was internally selected to represent Austria with their song “Wasted Love”. In Basel, JJ qualified for the final, where he then went on to win the contest after receiving 436 points from the Juries and Televotes combined.
Are you excited? 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: ORF.at
Photo credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU
Euan T 
Samantha 
Giwrgos Oiko