Days after two new members were announced, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has confirmed that Michael Krön, Executive Producer of Eurovision 2026, has officially joined the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group.
ORF’s Executive Producer joins the decision-making body
Michael Krön, Chief Producer at Austrian broadcaster ORF, will oversee the organisation of the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Austria next year. His appointment fills the host broadcaster position in the Reference Group, the EBU’s governing committee for the contest.
The Reference Group now includes:
- Anna Maria Bordas (RTVE) – Chairperson
- Ebba Adielsson (SVT) – Eurovision 2024 Host Broadcaster
- Moritz Stadler (SRG SSR) – Eurovision 2025 Host Broadcaster
- Michael Krön (ORF) – Eurovision 2026 Host Broadcaster
- Carla Bugalho (RTP)
- Molly Plank (DR)
- Claudia van der Pas (AVROTROS)
- Tomislav Å tengl (HRT)
- David Tserunyan (AMPTV)
They will also be joined by the Executive Supervisor, a role currently held on an interim basis by Martin Green, following the recent departure of Martin Österdahl.
The reference group oversees the Eurovision Song Contest’s strategic direction – validating the show’s format, securing funding, guiding the brand, and supervising the host broadcaster’s preparations each year.
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 this month.
What changes or innovations would you like to see from the Eurovision 2026 Reference Group? 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: Roman Zach-Kiesling / ORF
Rory Gannon 
Michelle