The Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna is now official. After Austrian singer JJ (Johannes Pietsch) won with his opera-techno track Wasted Love, the Austrian capital was awarded the hosting rights. The shows will take place in the Wiener Stadthalle, with the semi-finals scheduled for 12 and 14 May and the grand final on 16 May. It will be the third time that Vienna hosts the contest, following earlier editions in 1967 and 2015.
The Wiener Stadthalle as the stage
Once again, the Wiener Stadthalle will be the beating heart of the Eurovision Song Contest. The venue has a capacity of around 16,000 spectators, making it one of the largest and most flexible concert halls in the city. No additional infrastructure is needed, which makes it ideal for a large-scale international event.
The contest is more than just the live shows. Vienna will also organise a full week of activities around the city, including a Eurovillage, fan zones and possibly open-air events along the Donaukanal. This way, the entire city becomes part of the celebration.
Why Vienna was chosen
The choice for Vienna seemed almost inevitable. The city offered a strong package of accommodation, accessibility and proven organisational experience. With over 80,000 hotel beds, excellent public transport and an international airport connected to nearly 200 destinations worldwide, Vienna is well-prepared to welcome delegations and visitors from across Europe.
The slogan “Europe, shall we dance?” reflected Vienna’s ambition to present the festival as both cultural and forward-looking. Close cooperation between the city, Austrian broadcaster ORF and the European Broadcasting Union played a decisive role in securing the bid.
Costs, risks, and opportunities
Hosting Eurovision is a major investment. The overall costs are estimated in the tens of millions of euros, which sometimes raises questions in times of budget cuts. Yet, the potential benefits are significant.
When Vienna hosted the contest in 2015, it proved to be an economic boost for the city. Hotels and restaurants were booked out weeks in advance, and cafés, shops and cultural venues all benefitted from the influx of fans and journalists. Vienna also gained international recognition as an LGBTQ-friendly city, helped by the global popularity of Eurovision icon Conchita Wurst. Several international media outlets even described Vienna as a new hotspot for rainbow tourism, putting it on a level with destinations like Amsterdam and Berlin.
For Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, the city and organisers expect a similar or even greater impact, especially as this will be the 70th anniversary edition. Innsbruck also entered the race to host the contest, while Graz had already withdrawn earlier due to the high costs involved.
A look back: Eurovision in Austria
- 1967: Vienna hosted the contest in the Hofburg Palace after Udo Jürgens’ victory in 1966. At the time, the event was still intimate and small-scale.
- 2015: Following Conchita Wurst’s win in 2014, the contest returned to Vienna. The Wiener Stadthalle was transformed into an international stage for three spectacular shows.
- 2026: With JJ’s victory, Vienna once again becomes host, this time with added significance as the 70th edition of Eurovision.
Hotels and availability
For visitors planning to attend Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, it is wise to arrange accommodation early. Demand for hotel rooms is already extremely high, and prices have risen sharply. Compared with a regular stay in May, rates are often more than double. According to major booking platforms, a large share of available rooms has already been taken. In some cases, hotels may even be holding back inventory to create artificial scarcity and push prices further up.
Tip: compare prices carefully before booking. Websites such as Booking can give an overview of different providers and help you save costs. Looking beyond the city centre, for example in the Schönbrunn area or along the U-Bahn lines, often gives you more options at more affordable rates.