Austrian authorities are intensifying preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, with a strong focus on security measures around the event.
Ongoing risk assessments
According to Vienna police officials, the priority is to ensure the safety of the area surrounding the Wiener Stadthalle, where the contest will take place. While the organiser is responsible for security inside the venue, authorities confirmed that there is close coordination between all parties involved.
Security planning is being shaped by the broader international context, with officials noting that ongoing global conflicts involving participating countries are being taken into account. Authorities are conducting weekly threat assessments, which are continuously integrated into the overall security strategy for the event.
Large-Scale security operation
A significant number of personnel are already involved in preparations.
- Around 250 staff members from the police and the Interior Ministry are currently working on Eurovision security planning
- Police units from across Austria are expected to support Vienna’s forces
- Specialised teams, including explosive detection dog units, are likely to be deployed
Officials stressed that all items entering the venue will undergo strict security checks, with the goal of ensuring that nothing dangerous is brought into the Stadthalle.
Security screenings will extend beyond spectators to include everyone involved in the event, with around 600 volunteers who will undergo background checks, and additional checks will be carried out on suppliers, staff and private security personnel
Security measures will also apply to official fan zones, including the public viewing area at Rathausplatz and other key locations across the city. Access to these areas is expected to involve airport-style security procedures, reflecting the scale and visibility of the event.
All About 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 bidding process started in June, with interested cities having until July 4 to submit their bid book. Innsbruck and Vienna were shortlisted, with the latter winning the right to host next year’s contest. 35 countries will take part in the competition, the lowest number of competing entries since 2004.
As for the organisation of the competition, the ‘core team‘ was revealed in June 2025, with further details about next year’s competition to be revealed in due course. The shows will take place on May 12th, 14th and 16th.
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News Source: ORF
Photo Source: EBU