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Eurovision 2026: World's biggest music event to be held in Vienna. Check dates, venue, and ticket details
Synopsis
Vienna will host the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026 at the Wiener Stadthalle, marking the city's third time hosting. ORF chose Vienna due to its superior infrastructure, logistics, and economic advantages over Innsbruck. This follows JJ's victory in Basel with "Wasted Love," securing Austria's hosting duties for the globally viewed event.
AP FILE - Tourists enjoy the sunny weather in front of Vienna's Belvedere Palace Austria, on Thursday, June 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Hans Punz, File) The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is officially heading to Vienna, public broadcaster ORF confirmed on Wednesday that the world's largest live music event will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle in May 2026. The announcement follows Austrian singer JJ's victory at Eurovision 2025 in Basel with his operatic-techno fusion hit Wasted Love.'After thorough examination and based on a unanimous jury assessment, ORF has concluded that Vienna's bid is the most attractive not only in terms of infrastructure and logistics, but also economically,' said ORF Director General Roland won the hosting rights over Innsbruck, marking the third time the Austrian capital will stage Eurovision, after previously hosting in 1967 and Michael Ludwig celebrated the decision, writing on X: 'I am delighted that Vienna has prevailed and will once again represent Austria next year. I am convinced we will have a wonderful May together.'
JJ, whose full name is Johannes Pietsch, became Austria's third Eurovision winner, following Conchita Wurst (2014) and Udo Jürgens (1966).The last Eurovision contest drew an audience of around 160 million viewers worldwide, cementing its place as one of the most-watched entertainment shows on the competition will feature three live shows in Vienna, all starting at 21:00 CEST:Semi-Final 1: Tuesday, 12 May 2026Semi-Final 2: Thursday, 14 May 2026Grand Final: Saturday, 16 May 2026In addition to the live broadcasts, jury and family rehearsals will take place ahead of each show. These rehearsals mirror the performances but exclude the official voting. The jury rehearsal on 15 May will play a crucial role, as national juries cast their votes based on are expected to go on sale in late 2025. The timeline depends on finalizing key arrangements such as the venue setup, seating plan, stage design, and ticketing Eurovision tickets are released in batches, covering:Live shows (semi-finals and grand final)Jury rehearsalsFamily showsFans planning to attend are advised to follow and ORF's official channels for updates on the ticket release.
