ESC VIENNA 2026 (70ª)

  • Dates – Grand Final: Saturday, 16 May 2026, 21:00 CEST
  • Host – Venue & Location: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, 🇦🇹 Austria
  • Presenter(s): Victoria Swarovski, Michael Ostrowski
  • Musical Director: —
  • Director: Michael Kögler, Robin Hofwander
  • ESC director: —
  • Executive Supervisor: —
  • Executive Producer: Michael Krön
  • Multicamera Director: —
  • Host Broadcaster:  Österreichischer Rundfunk (ÖRF)
  • Opening Act:
  • Interval Act: 
  • Website: www.eurovision.com/eurovision-song-contest/vienna-2026/
  • Motto: United by Music[a]  (Vereint durch Musik)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 35: Final 25 [🇫🇷 France (68ª), 🇮🇹 Italy (51ª), 🇩🇪 Germany (69ª), 🇬🇧 United Kindom (68ª), 🇦🇹 Austria (58ª), ]; First Semi-Final 15 [🇭🇷 Croatia (31ª), 🇫🇮 Finland (59ª), 🇬🇪 Georgia (17ª), 🇬🇷 Greece (46ª), 🇲🇩 Moldova (21ª), 🇵🇹  Portugal (57ª), 🇸🇪 Sweden (65ª), 🇧🇪 Belgium (67ª), 🇪🇪 Estonia (31ª), 🇮🇱 Israel (48ª), 🇱🇹 Lithuania (26ª), 🇲🇪 Montenegro (14ª), 🇵🇱 Poland (28ª), 🇸🇲 San Marino (16ª), 🇷🇸 Serbia (18ª)]; Second Semi-Final 15 [🇦🇲 Armenia (18ª), 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (18ª), 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (15ª), 🇨🇿 Czechia (14ª), 🇱🇺 Luxembourg (40ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (24ª), 🇨🇭 Switzerland (66ª), 🇦🇱 Albania (22ª), 🇦🇺 Australia (11ª), 🇨🇾 Cyprus (42ª), 🇩🇰 Denmark (54ª), 🇱🇻 Latvia (26ª), 🇲🇹 Malta (38ª), 🇳🇴 Norway (64ª), 🇺🇦 Ukraine (21ª)].
  • Debuting countries: —
  • Returning countries: 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (15ª), 🇲🇩 Moldova (21ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (24ª)
  • Non-returning countries: 🇪🇸 Spain (65ª), 🇸🇮 Slovenia (30ª), 🇳🇱 The Netherlands (66ª), 🇮🇸 Iceland (38ª), 🇮🇪 Ireland (59ª)
  • Voting system:Televoting from participating countries + Online voting “Rest of the world” (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12 points) and national juries (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12 points). Each country awards one set in the semi-finals, or two sets in the final of 12, 10, 8–1 points to ten songs. In all three shows, online votes from viewers in non-participating countries are aggregated and awarded as one set of points.
  • Nul points in Final: —
  • Winning song: Final: Ι Second Semi-Final: Ι First Semi-Final: 

The 70th edition of the Contest was held in Vienna, which was the third time the Austrian capital had hosted the event, following 1967 and 2015.

35 broadcasters participated, with five (Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain) opting not to take part, and three returning to the competition; Moldova for the first time since 2024, Romania for the first time since 2023 and Bulgaria for the first time since 2022. The decision to come back would prove to be a positive one for the three broadcasters, with each of them landing in the Top 10 of the Saturday night Grand Final.

For Bulgaria, its return was a defining chapter in its Eurovision story, with broadcaster BNT achieving its first victory thanks to Bangaranga by DARA. The win was one for the history books, not just because it was Bulgaria’s first but also because it set a new record for the highest margin of points for a win: Bangaranga triumphed with a 173-point lead over the song in second place, beating the 169-point margin that Alexander Rybak’s Fairytale managed at Moscow 2009. Bulgaria’s victory was also the first time since Kyiv 2017 that the jury and the public had agreed on their winner, with Bangaranga topping both sets of scores. Bangaranga becamethe third Eurovision-winning staging creatively directed by Fredrik ‘Benke’ Rydman, following performances for Sweden’s Heroes by Måns Zelmerlöw and Switzerland’s The Code by Nemo.

Romania’s return to the Contest saw it equal its best position to date, with Alexandra Căpitănescu’s Choke Me earning a third bronze-medal finish after 2005 and 2010. Elsewhere in Top 10, global superstar Delta Goodrem brought Australia its best result since 2016 (fourth) with Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund giving his country its best placement since Emmelie de Forest’s victory in 2013(seventh).

In a special interval act to celebrate the 70th edition, a glittering array of Eurovision icons returned to the stage to put their own stamp on some Contest classics. Celebrate! Eurovision at 70 saw appearances from Alexander Rybak (Norway 2009 and 2018), Erika Vikman (Finland 2025), Kristian Kostov (Bulgaria 2017), Lordi (Finland 2006), Max Mutzke (Germany 2004), Miriana Conte (Malta 2024), Ruslana (Ukraine 2004) and Verka Seduchka (Ukraine 2007).

About/Overview. 

The world’s largest music competition will take place in Austria’s capital in 2026 as the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 70th anniversary. A city synonymous with musical brilliance – from Mozart to modern pop – Vienna provides a spectacular backdrop for this landmark edition of the Contest.

Beyond the Wiener Stadhalle, visitors can explore historical attractions, vibrant districts, neighbouring towns and cities, fan events and unforgettable nightlife, all woven into Eurovision week. Anyone arriving into Vienna for the event can plan their stay via wien.info.

A historical hub for the arts, this will be the third time that the capital of Austria has played host to the Contest, after taking on the honour in both 1967 and 2015, following Austria’s first two Eurovision victories.

35 Participants. 35 broadcasters will head to Austria in May to compete in the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Vienna 2026 sees three broadcasters return to the Contest: Bulgaria (BNT), Moldova (TVM) and Romania (TVR).

You can watch all 35 entries on our Official Music Video playlist over on YouTube.

The Semi-Final lineups. In January, Vienna’s City Hall played host to the Semi-Final Draw for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. 

The precise running order for the two Semi-Finals will be determined in April.

For Vienna 2026, both a public vote and a jury vote will determine the Top 10 countries from each Semi-Final. These will then progress to the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday 16 May.

Host country Austria, alongside the ‘Big 4’ (France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) don’t compete in the Semi-Finals, but their audiences watching at home do vote, as do their professional juries. Germany and Italy will perform and vote in the First Semi-Final, while Austria, France and the United Kingdom will do so in the Second Semi-Final.

The Hosts. Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski will host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.

Hailing from the charming, historical city of Innsbruck in the Alpine east of Austria, Victoria Swarovski is a TV presenter, entrepreneur, model, designer and singer. Not only has she been a long-time host of one of television’s most popular entertainment shows, Let’s Dance, but she has also presented prestigious award shows, too.

From Leoben, a city of immense natural beauty in the central region of Austria, Michael Ostrowski is an actor of film and TV, as well as being a popular presenter who recently won a Romy award for his TV hosting skills.

The Stage. To set the stage for Vienna 2026, ORF is using a concept by Florian Wieder that will preserve the familiar while boldly opening up something new. 

At the heart of the stage will be a LED surface in the shape of a curved leaf that forms the centrepiece of the production. A sweeping arc and an elaborate structure complete this spectacular design.

The creative spirit of the Viennese Secession – a pivotal art movement in Austria – lies at the centre of the stage-design concept. And just like that important part of Austria’s cultural heritage did, ORF’s production wants to deliberately break conventions and allow new forms. It’s about courage for renewal, openness to radical creativity and a new freedom of design.

Three design leitmotifs will convey this idea to viewers of Vienna 2026 in May:

The Leaf. A symbol of origin and potential, it stands for new beginnings and shared design. Diverse music from all over Europe is written on it.

The Curved Line. An expression of resonance, development and musical movement, it embodies connection, emotion and Viennese charm.

The Construct. A golden structure that connects art with functionality, it creates order, supports artistic vision and forms a deliberate contrast to the organic curved line.

In the connection of these elements, a stage design emerges that both preserves the DNA of the Eurovision Song Contest and breaks new creative ground.

The Green Room will be directly connected to the stage via a walkway – which, among other things, will enable a Winner’s Walk through the audience.

The Green Room. Taking on a typically Austrian character for 2026 will be the Green Room. An important element of the stage design, the Green Room is the lounge area where artists and delegations are seated during the Live Shows.

The design concept by Florian Wieder is inspired by Viennese coffee house culture. Officially recognised as intangible UNESCO cultural heritage, this culture stands for far more than the mere enjoyment of coffee — it embodies a distinctive philosophy of life and a deeply-rooted social tradition that is embedded in Austrian society.

And it is precisely this welcoming cultural philosophy that is now to be brought into the Eurovision Song Contest; the Green Room will become a Viennese coffee house — and thus a place of encounter, emotion and shared experience by people from all over the world right here in Austria.

Opening & Interval Acts. A programme of opening and interval acts has been specially developed to deliver a spectacular range of entertainment across the two Semi-Finals and the Grand Final on 12 | 14 | 16 May. The seven-decade history of the Eurovision Song Contest will be playing a prominent role as viewers tune in to see how the 70th edition unfolds.

From Basel 2025 winner JJ, to a special ‘Eurovision Allstar’ Celebration!, you can read all the details on what ORF has planned right here.

The Eurovision Village. Sunday 10 May – Sunday 17 May (open daily from 11:00 CEST). 

Welcoming the world to Austria, the Eurovision Village will kick off Eurovision week with the Opening Ceremony and the Turquoise Carpet event, taking place on Vienna’s Rathausplatz on Sunday 10 May.

Austrian hospitality at its finest will be experienced at the Eurovision Village, which is going to be open daily from 11:00 CEST until midnight or until the end of the Live Shows. And all three Live Shows which will be broadcast for all to see! Admission is free.

The final day of the Eurovision Village’s Rathausplatz residency will conclude with a programme entitled Thank You Vienna , which will offer locals and visitors the opportunity to reflect on the previous evening’s Grand Final together.

Rathausplatz, right next to Vienna City Hall and the home of the Eurovision Village, is located in the centre of the city and boasts excellent public transport connections, via the subway and tram lines. It is ideally located to serve as the beating heart of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

EuroClub. EuroClub is the official party hotspot of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Dance until the early hours of the morning with fans from across Europe and celebrate the music, artists and atmosphere of Eurovision week.

Nightly events will take place between Monday 11 May and Saturday 16 May, at the Prater DOME in Vienna. More information can be found on the official EuroClub website.

Get the official Host City app for Vienna 2026. From April 2026, ivie, currently the City of Vienna app, will become the official Host City app for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna.

Available for iOS and Android, from April users will be able to explore Song Contest locations, discover fan zones and events, and join the Eurovision Song Contest Challenge — a citywide treasure hunt with quiz questions and prizes.

Arrive into Vienna greener (and cheaper!). Austrian broadcaster ORF, together with ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways, the national rail network), is actively promoting rail travel as the primary way to reach the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, whether that’s from the airport to the city, or from elsewhere in Austria or neighbouring countries.

For Vienna 2026 ticket holders arriving by plane, a 25% discount on the City Airport Train (CAT) will be available, to promote a lower-emission travel option. And through targeted information, partnerships and travel incentives, those travelling into Vienna from other parts of Austria and surrounding regions will be encouraged to use public transport, making a significant contribution to reducing overall emissions.

ORF and ÖBB have even unveiled a specially designed Eurovision-themed locomotive to boost visibility and awareness.

The Winner.

  • Dates – First Semi-Final: Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 21:00 CEST
  • Host – Venue & Location: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, 🇦🇹 Austria
  • Presenter(s): Victoria Swarovski, Michael Ostrowski
  • Musical Director: —
  • Director: Michael Kögler, Robin Hofwander
  • ESC director: —
  • Executive Supervisor: —
  • Executive Producer: Michael Krön
  • Multicamera Director: —
  • Host Broadcaster:  Österreichischer Rundfunk (ÖRF)
  • Opening Act:
  • Interval Act: 
  • Website: www.eurovision.com/eurovision-song-contest/vienna-2026/
  • Motto: United by Music[a]  (Vereint durch Musik)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 35: Final 25 [🇫🇷 France (68ª), 🇮🇹 Italy (51ª), 🇩🇪 Germany (69ª), 🇬🇧 United Kindom (68ª), 🇦🇹 Austria (58ª), ]; First Semi-Final 15 [🇭🇷 Croatia (31ª), 🇫🇮 Finland (59ª), 🇬🇪 Georgia (17ª), 🇬🇷 Greece (46ª), 🇲🇩 Moldova (21ª), 🇵🇹  Portugal (57ª), 🇸🇪 Sweden (65ª), 🇧🇪 Belgium (67ª), 🇪🇪 Estonia (31ª), 🇮🇱 Israel (48ª), 🇱🇹 Lithuania (26ª), 🇲🇪 Montenegro (14ª), 🇵🇱 Poland (28ª), 🇸🇲 San Marino (16ª), 🇷🇸 Serbia (18ª)]; Second Semi-Final 15 [🇦🇲 Armenia (18ª), 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (18ª), 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (15ª), 🇨🇿 Czechia (14ª), 🇱🇺 Luxembourg (40ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (24ª), 🇨🇭 Switzerland (66ª), 🇦🇱 Albania (22ª), 🇦🇺 Australia (11ª), 🇨🇾 Cyprus (42ª), 🇩🇰 Denmark (54ª), 🇱🇻 Latvia (26ª), 🇲🇹 Malta (38ª), 🇳🇴 Norway (64ª), 🇺🇦 Ukraine (21ª)].
  • Debuting countries: —
  • Returning countries: 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (15ª), 🇲🇩 Moldova (21ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (24ª)
  • Non-returning countries: 🇪🇸 Spain (65ª), 🇸🇮 Slovenia (30ª), 🇳🇱 The Netherlands (66ª), 🇮🇸 Iceland (38ª), 🇮🇪 Ireland (59ª)
  • Voting system:Televoting from participating countries + Online voting “Rest of the world” (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12 points) and national juries (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12 points). Each country awards one set in the semi-finals, or two sets in the final of 12, 10, 8–1 points to ten songs. In all three shows, online votes from viewers in non-participating countries are aggregated and awarded as one set of points.
  • Nul points in Final: —
  • Winning song: Final: Ι Second Semi-Final: Ι First Semi-Final: 

About/Overview. The world’s largest music competition will take place in Austria’s capital in 2026 as the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 70th anniversary. A city synonymous with musical brilliance – from Mozart to modern pop – Vienna provides a spectacular backdrop for this landmark edition of the Contest.

Beyond the Wiener Stadhalle, visitors can explore historical attractions, vibrant districts, neighbouring towns and cities, fan events and unforgettable nightlife, all woven into Eurovision week. Anyone arriving into Vienna for the event can plan their stay via wien.info.

A historical hub for the arts, this will be the third time that the capital of Austria has played host to the Contest, after taking on the honour in both 1967 and 2015, following Austria’s first two Eurovision victories.

United By Music.

The world’s largest music competition will take place in Austria’s capital in 2026 as the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 70th anniversary. A city synonymous with musical brilliance – from Mozart to modern pop – Vienna provides a spectacular backdrop for this landmark edition of the Contest.

Beyond the Wiener Stadhalle, visitors can explore historical attractions, vibrant districts, neighbouring towns and cities, fan events and unforgettable nightlife, all woven into Eurovision week. Anyone arriving into Vienna for the event can plan their stay via wien.info.

A historical hub for the arts, this will be the third time that the capital of Austria has played host to the Contest, after taking on the honour in both 1967 and 2015, following Austria’s first two Eurovision victories.

35 Participants. 35 broadcasters will head to Austria in May to compete in the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Vienna 2026 sees three broadcasters return to the Contest: Bulgaria (BNT), Moldova (TVM) and Romania (TVR).

You can watch all 35 entries on our Official Music Video playlist over on YouTube.

The Semi-Final lineups. In January, Vienna’s City Hall played host to the Semi-Final Draw for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. 

The precise running order for the two Semi-Finals will be determined in April.

For Vienna 2026, both a public vote and a jury vote will determine the Top 10 countries from each Semi-Final. These will then progress to the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday 16 May.

Host country Austria, alongside the ‘Big 4’ (France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) don’t compete in the Semi-Finals, but their audiences watching at home do vote, as do their professional juries. Germany and Italy will perform and vote in the First Semi-Final, while Austria, France and the United Kingdom will do so in the Second Semi-Final.

The Hosts. Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski will host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.

Hailing from the charming, historical city of Innsbruck in the Alpine east of Austria, Victoria Swarovski is a TV presenter, entrepreneur, model, designer and singer. Not only has she been a long-time host of one of television’s most popular entertainment shows, Let’s Dance, but she has also presented prestigious award shows, too.

From Leoben, a city of immense natural beauty in the central region of Austria, Michael Ostrowski is an actor of film and TV, as well as being a popular presenter who recently won a Romy award for his TV hosting skills.

The Stage. To set the stage for Vienna 2026, ORF is using a concept by Florian Wieder that will preserve the familiar while boldly opening up something new. 

At the heart of the stage will be a LED surface in the shape of a curved leaf that forms the centrepiece of the production. A sweeping arc and an elaborate structure complete this spectacular design.

The creative spirit of the Viennese Secession – a pivotal art movement in Austria – lies at the centre of the stage-design concept. And just like that important part of Austria’s cultural heritage did, ORF’s production wants to deliberately break conventions and allow new forms. It’s about courage for renewal, openness to radical creativity and a new freedom of design.

Three design leitmotifs will convey this idea to viewers of Vienna 2026 in May:

The Leaf. A symbol of origin and potential, it stands for new beginnings and shared design. Diverse music from all over Europe is written on it.

The Curved Line. An expression of resonance, development and musical movement, it embodies connection, emotion and Viennese charm.

The Construct. A golden structure that connects art with functionality, it creates order, supports artistic vision and forms a deliberate contrast to the organic curved line.

In the connection of these elements, a stage design emerges that both preserves the DNA of the Eurovision Song Contest and breaks new creative ground.

The Green Room will be directly connected to the stage via a walkway – which, among other things, will enable a Winner’s Walk through the audience.

The Green Room. Taking on a typically Austrian character for 2026 will be the Green Room. An important element of the stage design, the Green Room is the lounge area where artists and delegations are seated during the Live Shows.

The design concept by Florian Wieder is inspired by Viennese coffee house culture. Officially recognised as intangible UNESCO cultural heritage, this culture stands for far more than the mere enjoyment of coffee — it embodies a distinctive philosophy of life and a deeply-rooted social tradition that is embedded in Austrian society.

And it is precisely this welcoming cultural philosophy that is now to be brought into the Eurovision Song Contest; the Green Room will become a Viennese coffee house — and thus a place of encounter, emotion and shared experience by people from all over the world right here in Austria.

Opening & Interval Acts. A programme of opening and interval acts has been specially developed to deliver a spectacular range of entertainment across the two Semi-Finals and the Grand Final on 12 | 14 | 16 May. The seven-decade history of the Eurovision Song Contest will be playing a prominent role as viewers tune in to see how the 70th edition unfolds.

From Basel 2025 winner JJ, to a special ‘Eurovision Allstar’ Celebration!, you can read all the details on what ORF has planned right here.

The Eurovision Village. Sunday 10 May – Sunday 17 May (open daily from 11:00 CEST). 

Welcoming the world to Austria, the Eurovision Village will kick off Eurovision week with the Opening Ceremony and the Turquoise Carpet event, taking place on Vienna’s Rathausplatz on Sunday 10 May.

Austrian hospitality at its finest will be experienced at the Eurovision Village, which is going to be open daily from 11:00 CEST until midnight or until the end of the Live Shows. And all three Live Shows which will be broadcast for all to see! Admission is free.

The final day of the Eurovision Village’s Rathausplatz residency will conclude with a programme entitled Thank You Vienna , which will offer locals and visitors the opportunity to reflect on the previous evening’s Grand Final together.

Rathausplatz, right next to Vienna City Hall and the home of the Eurovision Village, is located in the centre of the city and boasts excellent public transport connections, via the subway and tram lines. It is ideally located to serve as the beating heart of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

EuroClub. EuroClub is the official party hotspot of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Dance until the early hours of the morning with fans from across Europe and celebrate the music, artists and atmosphere of Eurovision week.

Nightly events will take place between Monday 11 May and Saturday 16 May, at the Prater DOME in Vienna. More information can be found on the official EuroClub website.

Get the official Host City app for Vienna 2026. From April 2026, ivie, currently the City of Vienna app, will become the official Host City app for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna.

Available for iOS and Android, from April users will be able to explore Song Contest locations, discover fan zones and events, and join the Eurovision Song Contest Challenge — a citywide treasure hunt with quiz questions and prizes.

Arrive into Vienna greener (and cheaper!). Austrian broadcaster ORF, together with ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways, the national rail network), is actively promoting rail travel as the primary way to reach the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, whether that’s from the airport to the city, or from elsewhere in Austria or neighbouring countries.

For Vienna 2026 ticket holders arriving by plane, a 25% discount on the City Airport Train (CAT) will be available, to promote a lower-emission travel option. And through targeted information, partnerships and travel incentives, those travelling into Vienna from other parts of Austria and surrounding regions will be encouraged to use public transport, making a significant contribution to reducing overall emissions.

ORF and ÖBB have even unveiled a specially designed Eurovision-themed locomotive to boost visibility and awareness.

The Winner.

  • Dates – Second Semi-Final: Thursday, 14 May 2026, 21:00 CEST
  • Host – Venue & Location: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, 🇦🇹 Austria
  • Presenter(s): Victoria Swarovski, Michael Ostrowski
  • Musical Director: —
  • Director: Michael Kögler, Robin Hofwander
  • ESC director: —
  • Executive Supervisor: —
  • Executive Producer: Michael Krön
  • Multicamera Director: —
  • Host Broadcaster:  Österreichischer Rundfunk (ÖRF)
  • Opening Act:
  • Interval Act: 
  • Website: www.eurovision.com/eurovision-song-contest/vienna-2026/
  • Motto: United by Music[a]  (Vereint durch Musik)
  • Participants – Number of entries: 35: Final 25 [🇫🇷 France (68ª), 🇮🇹 Italy (51ª), 🇩🇪 Germany (69ª), 🇬🇧 United Kindom (68ª), 🇦🇹 Austria (58ª), ]; First Semi-Final 15 [🇭🇷 Croatia (31ª), 🇫🇮 Finland (59ª), 🇬🇪 Georgia (17ª), 🇬🇷 Greece (46ª), 🇲🇩 Moldova (21ª), 🇵🇹  Portugal (57ª), 🇸🇪 Sweden (65ª), 🇧🇪 Belgium (67ª), 🇪🇪 Estonia (31ª), 🇮🇱 Israel (48ª), 🇱🇹 Lithuania (26ª), 🇲🇪 Montenegro (14ª), 🇵🇱 Poland (28ª), 🇸🇲 San Marino (16ª), 🇷🇸 Serbia (18ª)]; Second Semi-Final 15 [🇦🇲 Armenia (18ª), 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (18ª), 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (15ª), 🇨🇿 Czechia (14ª), 🇱🇺 Luxembourg (40ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (24ª), 🇨🇭 Switzerland (66ª), 🇦🇱 Albania (22ª), 🇦🇺 Australia (11ª), 🇨🇾 Cyprus (42ª), 🇩🇰 Denmark (54ª), 🇱🇻 Latvia (26ª), 🇲🇹 Malta (38ª), 🇳🇴 Norway (64ª), 🇺🇦 Ukraine (21ª)].
  • Debuting countries: —
  • Returning countries: 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (15ª), 🇲🇩 Moldova (21ª), 🇷🇴 Romania (24ª)
  • Non-returning countries: 🇪🇸 Spain (65ª), 🇸🇮 Slovenia (30ª), 🇳🇱 The Netherlands (66ª), 🇮🇸 Iceland (38ª), 🇮🇪 Ireland (59ª)
  • Voting system:Televoting from participating countries + Online voting “Rest of the world” (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12 points) and national juries (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,12 points). Each country awards one set in the semi-finals, or two sets in the final of 12, 10, 8–1 points to ten songs. In all three shows, online votes from viewers in non-participating countries are aggregated and awarded as one set of points.
  • Nul points in Final: —
  • Winning song: Final: Ι Second Semi-Final: Ι First Semi-Final: 

About/Overview. The world’s largest music competition will take place in Austria’s capital in 2026 as the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 70th anniversary. A city synonymous with musical brilliance – from Mozart to modern pop – Vienna provides a spectacular backdrop for this landmark edition of the Contest.

Beyond the Wiener Stadhalle, visitors can explore historical attractions, vibrant districts, neighbouring towns and cities, fan events and unforgettable nightlife, all woven into Eurovision week. Anyone arriving into Vienna for the event can plan their stay via wien.info.

A historical hub for the arts, this will be the third time that the capital of Austria has played host to the Contest, after taking on the honour in both 1967 and 2015, following Austria’s first two Eurovision victories.

35 Participants. 35 broadcasters will head to Austria in May to compete in the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Vienna 2026 sees three broadcasters return to the Contest: Bulgaria (BNT), Moldova (TVM) and Romania (TVR).

You can watch all 35 entries on our Official Music Video playlist over on YouTube.

The Semi-Final lineups. In January, Vienna’s City Hall played host to the Semi-Final Draw for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. 

The precise running order for the two Semi-Finals will be determined in April.

For Vienna 2026, both a public vote and a jury vote will determine the Top 10 countries from each Semi-Final. These will then progress to the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday 16 May.

Host country Austria, alongside the ‘Big 4’ (France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) don’t compete in the Semi-Finals, but their audiences watching at home do vote, as do their professional juries. Germany and Italy will perform and vote in the First Semi-Final, while Austria, France and the United Kingdom will do so in the Second Semi-Final.

The Hosts. Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski will host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.

Hailing from the charming, historical city of Innsbruck in the Alpine east of Austria, Victoria Swarovski is a TV presenter, entrepreneur, model, designer and singer. Not only has she been a long-time host of one of television’s most popular entertainment shows, Let’s Dance, but she has also presented prestigious award shows, too.

From Leoben, a city of immense natural beauty in the central region of Austria, Michael Ostrowski is an actor of film and TV, as well as being a popular presenter who recently won a Romy award for his TV hosting skills.

The Stage. To set the stage for Vienna 2026, ORF is using a concept by Florian Wieder that will preserve the familiar while boldly opening up something new. 

At the heart of the stage will be a LED surface in the shape of a curved leaf that forms the centrepiece of the production. A sweeping arc and an elaborate structure complete this spectacular design.

The creative spirit of the Viennese Secession – a pivotal art movement in Austria – lies at the centre of the stage-design concept. And just like that important part of Austria’s cultural heritage did, ORF’s production wants to deliberately break conventions and allow new forms. It’s about courage for renewal, openness to radical creativity and a new freedom of design.

Three design leitmotifs will convey this idea to viewers of Vienna 2026 in May:

The Leaf. A symbol of origin and potential, it stands for new beginnings and shared design. Diverse music from all over Europe is written on it.

The Curved Line. An expression of resonance, development and musical movement, it embodies connection, emotion and Viennese charm.

The Construct. A golden structure that connects art with functionality, it creates order, supports artistic vision and forms a deliberate contrast to the organic curved line.

In the connection of these elements, a stage design emerges that both preserves the DNA of the Eurovision Song Contest and breaks new creative ground.

The Green Room will be directly connected to the stage via a walkway – which, among other things, will enable a Winner’s Walk through the audience.

The Green Room. Taking on a typically Austrian character for 2026 will be the Green Room. An important element of the stage design, the Green Room is the lounge area where artists and delegations are seated during the Live Shows.

The design concept by Florian Wieder is inspired by Viennese coffee house culture. Officially recognised as intangible UNESCO cultural heritage, this culture stands for far more than the mere enjoyment of coffee — it embodies a distinctive philosophy of life and a deeply-rooted social tradition that is embedded in Austrian society.

And it is precisely this welcoming cultural philosophy that is now to be brought into the Eurovision Song Contest; the Green Room will become a Viennese coffee house — and thus a place of encounter, emotion and shared experience by people from all over the world right here in Austria.

Opening & Interval Acts. A programme of opening and interval acts has been specially developed to deliver a spectacular range of entertainment across the two Semi-Finals and the Grand Final on 12 | 14 | 16 May. The seven-decade history of the Eurovision Song Contest will be playing a prominent role as viewers tune in to see how the 70th edition unfolds.

From Basel 2025 winner JJ, to a special ‘Eurovision Allstar’ Celebration!, you can read all the details on what ORF has planned right here.

The Eurovision Village. Sunday 10 May – Sunday 17 May (open daily from 11:00 CEST). 

Welcoming the world to Austria, the Eurovision Village will kick off Eurovision week with the Opening Ceremony and the Turquoise Carpet event, taking place on Vienna’s Rathausplatz on Sunday 10 May.

Austrian hospitality at its finest will be experienced at the Eurovision Village, which is going to be open daily from 11:00 CEST until midnight or until the end of the Live Shows. And all three Live Shows which will be broadcast for all to see! Admission is free.

The final day of the Eurovision Village’s Rathausplatz residency will conclude with a programme entitled Thank You Vienna , which will offer locals and visitors the opportunity to reflect on the previous evening’s Grand Final together.

Rathausplatz, right next to Vienna City Hall and the home of the Eurovision Village, is located in the centre of the city and boasts excellent public transport connections, via the subway and tram lines. It is ideally located to serve as the beating heart of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

EuroClub. EuroClub is the official party hotspot of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Dance until the early hours of the morning with fans from across Europe and celebrate the music, artists and atmosphere of Eurovision week.

Nightly events will take place between Monday 11 May and Saturday 16 May, at the Prater DOME in Vienna. More information can be found on the official EuroClub website.

Get the official Host City app for Vienna 2026. From April 2026, ivie, currently the City of Vienna app, will become the official Host City app for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna.

Available for iOS and Android, from April users will be able to explore Song Contest locations, discover fan zones and events, and join the Eurovision Song Contest Challenge — a citywide treasure hunt with quiz questions and prizes.

Arrive into Vienna greener (and cheaper!). Austrian broadcaster ORF, together with ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways, the national rail network), is actively promoting rail travel as the primary way to reach the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, whether that’s from the airport to the city, or from elsewhere in Austria or neighbouring countries.

For Vienna 2026 ticket holders arriving by plane, a 25% discount on the City Airport Train (CAT) will be available, to promote a lower-emission travel option. And through targeted information, partnerships and travel incentives, those travelling into Vienna from other parts of Austria and surrounding regions will be encouraged to use public transport, making a significant contribution to reducing overall emissions.

ORF and ÖBB have even unveiled a specially designed Eurovision-themed locomotive to boost visibility and awareness.

The Winner.

Missed participation

Participation map

Blue: Countries pre-qualified for the final; Green: Countries set to compete in the semi-finals; Grey: Countries that participated in the past, but not in 2026

ESC 2026 Scoreboard Grand Final Ι Detailed voting results Ι Jury Ι Audience:

ESC 2026 Scoreboard First Semi-Final Ι Detailed voting results Ι Jury Ι Audience:

ESC 2026 Scoreboard Second Semi-Final Ι Detailed voting results Ι Jury Ι Audience:

 

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is set to be the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It is scheduled to consist of two semi-finals on 12 and 14 May and a final on 16 May 2026, held at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, and presented by Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski. It is being organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), which will stage the event after winning the 2025 contest for Austria with the song “Wasted Love” by JJ.

Broadcasters from thirty-five countries will participate in the contest, two fewer than in 2025 and the smallest number of participants since 2003, before the introduction of semi-finals. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain have opted not to participate in protest of Israel’s inclusion in the context of the Gaza war, marking the largest number of boycotting countries in the contest’s history since 1970, while Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania are set to return after absences from recent editions.

Location. The 2026 contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, following the country’s victory at the 2025 contest with the song “Wasted Love”, performed by JJ. It will be the third time that Austria has hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1967 and 2015, both times also in Vienna. The selected venue for the contest is the 16,152-seat Wiener Stadthalle, which previously hosted the contest in 2015.

In addition to the main venue, the Rathausplatz will be the location of the Eurovision Village, which hosts performances by contest participants and local artists as well as screenings of the live shows for the general public. The Vienna City Hall will host the EuroClub, which organises the official after-parties and private performances by contest participants, as well as the “Turquoise Carpet” and opening ceremony on 10 May 2026, where the contestants and their delegations will be presented before accredited press and fans. Both locations will repeat the same functions they held in 2015.

Bidding phase. After Austria’s win in the 2025 contest, a press conference was organised by the host broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), where its director Roland Weißmann emphasised venue suitability and proximity to airports as key criteria in the selection process for the host city and its program director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz noted the lack of newly built large arenas in the country recent years but encouraged municipalities with viable plans to submit bids.

Several Austrian cities expressed interest in hosting the 2026 contest within days of the 2025 victory. On 18 May 2025, the mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, confirmed the city’s intention to bid. On the same day, Graz stated it was examining a potential bid, with mayor Elke Kahr pointing to Stadthalle Graz as a suitable venue. The Schwarzl Freizeit Zentrum, also in Graz, was proposed as a potential venue by its concert manager and operator, Klaus Leutgeb. Also on 18 May, Innsbruck and Wels confirmed they would bid with the Olympiahalle and a new exhibition hall, respectively. Oberwart also expressed interest in hosting. On 19 May, Sankt Pölten’s mayor Matthias Stadler proposed VAZ St. Pölten as a possible venue. On 26 May, Ebreichsdorf presented a proposal to host in a temporary venue.

ORF launched the bidding process on 2 June 2025, by opening a window for cities and municipalities to declare their interest. Those candidates received the detailed tender documents and had until 4 July to submit their bids. Ebreichsdorf withdrew from the process on 15 June, followed by Oberwart on 21 June, Graz on 27 June, and Wels on 1 July. Vienna and Innsbruck were the only cities to submit bids by the deadline. On 20 August, the EBU and ORF announced Vienna as the host city.

Key: †  Host city  ^  Submitted a bid

City Venue Notes
Ebreichsdorf Temporary arena The proposed venue was a temporary arena with a capacity for 20,000 people. Another venue for a public viewing of the final with a capacity of 30,000 would have been set-up. Withdrew from bidding on 15 June.
Graz Stadthalle Graz Withdrew from bidding on 27 June.
Schwarzl Freizeit Zentrum
Innsbruck ^ Olympiahalle Hosted the figure skating and ice hockey events at both the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympic Games.
Oberwart Messe Oberwart Withdrew from bidding on 21 June.
Vienna † Wiener Stadthalle Hosted the 2015 contest.
Wels and Linz Messe Wels Joint bid, with Wels hosting the contest proper. The venue is under construction and scheduled to be completed in March 2026. Withdrew from bidding on 1 July.

Participants. Eligibility for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest requires a national broadcaster with active EBU membership capable of receiving the contest via the Eurovision network and broadcasting the contest live nationwide. The EBU issues an invitation to participate in the contest to all active members.

On 15 December 2025, the EBU announced that broadcasters from 35 countries would participate in the 2026 contest. Bulgaria returns after a three-year absence, Romania returns after a two-year absence, and Moldova returns after a one-year absence. On the other hand, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, all of which participated in 2025, have opted not to take part in protest of the inclusion of Israel in the context of the Gaza war, as well as the Israeli government’s attempts to influence the results in the past two editions. This marks the largest boycott in the contest’s history since 1970.

Eurovision Song Contest 2026 participants
Country Broadcaster Artist Song Language Songwriter(s)
 Albania RTSH Alis “Nân“ Albanian

Alis Kallaçi, Desara Gjini
 Armenia AMPTV SIMÓN “Paloma rumba“ English

Lilit Navasardyan (LI’LITH) – David Tserunyan, Eva Voskanyan, Rosa Linn (Roza Kostandyan)
 Australia SBS Delta Goodrem “Eclipse” English

Delta Goodrem, Ferras AlQaisi, Jonas Myrin, Michael Fatkin – Delta Goodrem, Ferras AlQaisi, Jonas Myrin, Michael Fatkin
 Austria ORF COSMÓ  “Tanzschein“ German

Benjamin Gedeon, Elias Stejskal, Ella Stern
 Azerbaijan İTV JIVA “Just Go” English, Azerbaijani Fuad Javadov
 Belgium RTBF ESSYLA “Dancing on the Ice” English Alice Van Eesbeeck, Barbara Petitjean, Emil Stengele, Nicolas d’Avell
 Bulgaria BNT DARA “Bangaranga” English

Anne Judith Stokke Wik, Darina Yotova, Dimitris Kontopoulos, Monoir (Cristian Tarcea) – Anne Judith Stokke Wik, Darina Yotova, Dimitris Kontopoulos, Monoir (Cristian Tarcea)
 Croatia HRT LELEK “Andromeda“ Croatian Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić, Zorja (Zorica Pajić) – Tomislav Roso
 Cyprus CyBC Antigoni “JALLA” English, Greek Antigoni Buxton, Claydee Lupa (Klejdi Lupa), Connor Mullally-Knight, Paris Kalpos, Trey Qua – Antigoni Buxton, Charalambous Kallona, Claydee Lupa (Klejdi Lupa), Connor Mullally-Knight, Demetris Nikolaou, Paris Kalpos, Trey Qua
 Czechia ČT Daniel Žižka “CROSSROADS” English Daniel Žižka, Viliam Béreš – Daniel Žižka
 Denmark DR Søren Torpegaard Lund “Før vi går hjem“ Danish

Clara Sofie Fabricius, Søren Torpegaard Lund, Thomas Meilstrup, Valdemar Littauer Bendixen
 Estonia ERR Vanilla Ninja “Too Epic to Be True” English Sven Lõhmus
 Finland Yle Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen “Liekinheitin“ Finnish Antti Riihimäki, Lauri Halavaara, Pete Parkkonen, Vilma Alina – Pete Parkkonen, Vilma Alina Lähteenmäki
 France France Télévisions Monroe “Regarde !“ French  Christopher Cohen, Fred Savio, Fredie Marche, Maxime Morise – Fredie Marche
 Georgia GPB Bzikebi “On Replay” English

Giga Kukhianidze – Liza Japaridze 
 Germany SWR[a] Sarah Engels “Fire” English Dario Schürmann, Luisa Heinemann, Raphael Lott, Sarah Engels, Valentin Boes – Dario Schürmann, Luisa Heinemann, Raphael Lott, Sarah Engels, Valentin Boes 
 Greece ERT Akylas “Ferto” (Φέρτο) Greek, Spanish, French, English Akylas Mytilinaios, Orfeas Nonis, Theofilos Pouzbouris, Thomas Papathanasis
 Israel IPBC Noam Bettan “Michelle” Hebrew, French, English Nadav Aharoni, Tslil Klifi – Nadav Aharoni, Noam Bettan, Tzlil Klifi, Yuval Raphael
 Italy RAI Sal Da Vinci “Per sempre sì“ Italian Alessandro La Cava, Eugenio Maimone, Francesco Sorrentino, Federica Abbate, Federico Mercuri, Giordano Cremona, Salvatore Michael Sorrentino
 Latvia LSM Atvara “Ēnā“ Latvian Jānis Jačmenkins, Liene Stūrmane – Jānis Jačmenkins, Liene Atvara
 Lithuania LRT Lion Ceccah “Sólo quiero más“ Lithuanian, Spanish, English Aurimas Galvelis, Tomas Alenčikas – Tomas Alenčikas
 Luxembourg RTL Eva Marija “Mother Nature” English Eva Marija Kavaš Puc, Julie Aagaard , Maria Broberg, Thomas Stengaard
 Malta PBS AIDAN “Bella“ English, Maltese, Italian Aidan Cassar, Joep van den Boom, Sarah Bonnici – Aidan Cassar
 Moldova TRM Satoshi “Viva, Moldova!“ Romanian, Italian, Latin, English, Spanish, French Andrei Vulpe, Cătălin Temciuc, Vasile Advahov, Vlad Sabajuc – Vlad Sabajuc
 Montenegro RTCG Tamara Živković “Nova zora” (Нова зора) Montenegrin Boris Subotić
 Norway NRK JONAS LOVV “YA YA YA” English Jonas Lovv Hellesøy, Sondre Skaftun – Jonas Lovv Hellesøy, Sondre Skaftun
 Poland TVP ALICJA “Pray [pl]“ English Alicja Szemplińska, Sinclair Alan Malcolm, Weronika Gabryelczyk
 Portugal RTP Bandidos do Cante “Rosa“ Portuguese Duarte Farias, Francisco Pereira, Francisco Pestana, Francisco Raposo, Gonçalo Narciso, Gui Alface, José Carlos Coelho Almeida Tavares, Luis Aleixo, Miguel Costa
 Romania TVR Alexandra Căpitănescu “Choke Me” English

Alexandra Căpitănescu, Călin-Alexandru Grăjdan, Majiii (Elvis Silitră), Ștefan Condrea – Alexandra Căpitănescu, Majii (Elvis Silitră)
 San Marino SMRTV SENHIT [b] “Superstar” English Anderz Wrethov, George Alan O’Dowd, Julie Aagaard, John-Emil Johansson, Thomas Stengaard, Senhit Zadik Zadik
 Serbia RTS LAVINA “Kraj mene” (Крај мене) Serbian

Andrija Cvetanović, Bojan Ilić, Ivan Jegdić, Luka Aranđelović, Nikola Petrović, Pavle Aranđelović, Pavle Samardžić
 Sweden SVT FELICIA “My System” English

Audun Agnar Guldbrandsen, Emily Harbakk, Felicia Eriksson, Julie Bergan, Theresa Rex
  Switzerland SRG SSR Veronica Fusaro “Alice” English

Charlie McClean, Veronica Fusaro
 Ukraine Suspilne LELÉKA “Ridnym” (Рідним) English, Ukrainian

Adama Cefalu, Jakob Hegner, Viktoriia Leleka – Adama Cefalu, Viktoriia Leleka
 United Kingdom BBC LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER “Eins, Zwei, Drei“ English

Julie Aagaard, LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER (Sam Battle), Lasse Nymann, Thomas Stengaard – Julie Aagaard, LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER (Sam Battle), Lasse Midtsian Nymann, Thomas Stengaard

Returning artists. The contest is set to feature two returning artists: Estonia’s Vanilla Ninja previously represented Switzerland in 2005, and San Marino’s Senhit previously represented the country in 2011 and 2021 (and was set to do so in 2020 before that year’s event was cancelled). In addition, Poland’s Alicja was also set to represent the country in 2020; Aliona Moon, who previously represented Moldova in 2013 and provided backing vocals for Pasha Parfeni in 2012, will also provide backing vocals for Satoshi; Georgia’s Bzikebi previously won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008 for the country; and Belgium’s Essyla previously represented the country in Eurovision Choir 2019 as part of the choir Almakalia. 

Boycotts due to Israeli participation. The Gaza war has brought Israel’s participation in the contest into controversy, with calls for the country to be excluded and demonstrations against its participation at the 2024 and 2025 editions. Israel’s 2024 entry “Hurricane” was also controversial, as an earlier version titled “October Rain” was seen as referencing the 7 October attacks on Israel, a breach of political neutrality rules, which led to it only being accepted by the EBU after a rewrite. Israel ultimately finished in fifth place in 2024 and second in 2025, in both cases placing within the top two of the public vote, which was partially attributed to advertising campaigns run by Israeli government officials to boost public votes and encourage support for their country’s entries. The existence of such campaigns for the 2024 entry was confirmed by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and similar campaigns for the 2025 entry were detailed by Eurovision News Spotlight, a fact-checking and open-source intelligence initiative by the EBU. The 2025 set of advertisements, published by the Israel Government Advertising Agency, received over 68 million total impressions. Several participating broadcasters called for a rework of the televoting system and an independent audit of individual countries’ televoting results following the 2025 final.

Ahead of the 2026 contest, broadcasters from Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain announced their intention to boycott if Israel is allowed to compete, while others indicated their intention to participate dependent on certain conditions being fulfilled by the EBU. The contest’s reference group extended its confirmation deadline, before which broadcasters are able to withdraw applications for the 2026 contest without incurring a financial penalty, from 13 October to mid-December to allow for a wide-ranging consultation with broadcasters on Israeli participation, which was set to be determined at the EBU’s general assembly on 4 and 5 December. A special general assembly session was planned to be held in early November to discuss and vote on Israel’s representation in the contest, but it was cancelled following the implementation of a ceasefire deal and peace plan aimed at ending the war. The 4 December assembly ultimately voted in favour of adopting a series of amendments to the voting system, bypassing a proposed separate vote on Israel’s participation and allowing the country to compete. As a result, broadcasters from the four aforementioned countries announced they will go ahead with their boycott, followed by Iceland on 10 December, with the Irish, Slovenian and Spanish broadcasters also stating they would not broadcast the contest. This would mark the first time that the event would not be broadcast in Ireland since 1963, in Slovenia since 1985 and in Spain since 1961. The absence of Spain would also mark the first time that the “Big Five” is incomplete since its expansion with Italy in 2011. The boycott was described by several media outlets as “the biggest crisis in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest”.[c] Protesting the decision to permit Israel, Nemo, who won for Switzerland in 2024, returned their trophy to the EBU. Charlie McGettigan, who won for Ireland in 1994 alongside Paul Harrington, later stated that he would return their trophy as well.

The following countries’ broadcasters confirmed they would boycott in 2026:

Iceland – Although RÚV initially announced that it would select its entry for 2026 through its traditional national final Söngvakeppnin, on 8 September 2025, Stefán Jón Hafstein, chairman of RÚV’s board of directors, stated that the broadcaster’s participation is “uncertain” and would be dependent on whether Israel is allowed to compete. On 26 November, RÚV’s board voted to recommend Israel be excluded, and on 10 December, six days after the assembly vote, it announced its boycott of the event.

Ireland – On 11 September 2025, RTÉ stated “if the participation of Israel goes ahead” it would not compete, citing the “huge loss of life” as well as targeting of journalists in the Gaza war, and that the broadcaster is waiting until the EBU general assembly in December to make a decision. On 4 December, following the assembly vote, RTÉ announced its boycott of the event by neither competing in nor broadcasting it.

The Netherlands – Despite initially announcing that it would internally select its entry for 2026, on 12 September 2025, AVROTROS stated: “We can no longer justify Israel’s participation with the continued and serious human suffering in Gaza”, and cited the Israeli government campaign as interference in the previous edition’s outcome. The broadcaster later stated that it would not change its position for the contest in 2026 even if a ceasefire is reached or the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict develops otherwise, and would reassess its participation “in subsequent years” dependent on the circumstances at that moment. On 4 December, following the assembly vote, AVROTROS announced its boycott of the event.

Slovenia – On 4 September 2025, RTVSLO stated that it would decide whether to participate in 2026 after the EBU makes a decision on Israel’s future participation and address concerns surrounding the “transparency of the vote” in December. The broadcaster later stated its “clear position”, on 12 September and again on 27 November, that it would not participate if Israel is allowed to compete. On 4 December, following the assembly vote, RTVSLO announced its boycott of the event by neither competing in nor broadcasting it.

Spain – In May 2025, José Pablo López, chairman of RTVE, initially announced that the broadcaster would select its entry through Benidorm Fest, the national final format in use since 2022. On 9 September, it was reported that a decision on participation would be made in December, following the EBU general assembly, and that Benidorm Fest would be organised regardless of the decision taken. On 16 September, RTVE’s board of directors passed a proposal for the broadcaster not to participate in nor air the contest if Israel participates. On 9 October, RTVE’s head of communications María Eizaguirre stated that the broadcaster’s position remained unchanged in light of the recently proposed peace plan; López reaffirmed this in front of the Joint Parliamentary Control Committee of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate on 27 November. On 4 December, following the assembly vote, RTVE announced its boycott of the event by neither competing in nor broadcasting it.

Other countries. The EBU member broadcasters in Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Slovakia confirmed non-participation prior to the announcement of the participants list by the EBU. Associate member broadcasters in Canada and Kazakhstan expressed interest in debuting in the contest, however, the EBU confirmed that the two would not do so in 2026.

Production and format. The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be produced by the Austrian national broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF). The core team consists of Michael Krön as executive producer, Stefan Zechner as show producer, Daniel Hack as head of production, Christine Tichy as technical manager, Roman Horacek as head of communications, Iris Keutter as marketing manager, Oliver Lingens as event manager, Christina Lassnig as executive assistant, Christina Heinzle-Conrad as secretary-general, and Martin Szerencsi as legal advisor. Zechner, Tichy, Horacek, Keutter, Lingens, and Szerencsi all previously held similar or analogous positions for the 2015 contest in Vienna. Michael Kögler and Robin Hofwander serve as multi-camera directors, Dorothee Freiberger and Martin Gellner compose the theme music, and Tim Routledge serves as lighting designer.

In June 2025, the EBU announced that Martin Österdahl would step down from his role as executive supervisor of the contest, with ESC director Martin Green temporarily assuming Österdahl’s duties. On 1 October, Gert Kark was appointed to the contest’s reference group, taking Österdahl’s vacated spot. A few days later, it was revealed that he would serve in the newly created position of ESC executive producer.

A study by the research institute EcoAustria [de] estimates the budget for the contest to be at €36 million, with the Municipal Council and Landtag of Vienna allocating €22.6 million and the EBU contributing an expected €5 million.

Voting system. The 2026 contest will see several changes to the voting system. The results of the semi-finals will once again be determined by a combination of jury vote and televote, as they had been from 2010 to 2022.[d] The size of national juries, however, is increased from five to seven members, with two jurors required to be between the ages of 18 and 25, and the range of eligible professional backgrounds is widened. The maximum number of votes per payment method is reduced from 20 to 10. Voting instructions are updated to “discourage disproportionate promotion campaigns…particularly when undertaken or supported by third parties, including governments or governmental agencies”. The rules were amended in the wake of controversy around Israel’s result in the 2025 edition.

Visual and stage design. The 2026 contest will be represented by a revamped version of the generic logo, designed by the Sheffield-based branding studio Pals, to celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest’s 70th anniversary. A new design element named the “Chameleon Heart” was also introduced, consisting of 70 layers of the “Eurovision heart” rendered in 3D. It is intended to be adaptable for future host countries’ needs. The stage design for the 2026 contest is devised for the third year in a row by German production designer Florian Wieder, who had previously designed the sets of eight previous contests. It is inspired by the “creative spirit of the Viennese Secession” and based on three leitmotifs: “The Leaf”, “The Curved Line”, and “The Construct”, with the green room directly connected to the stage through a walkway. The green room’s design is inspired by Viennese coffee houses.

Postcards. The “postcards” are short video introductions shown on television while the stage is being prepared for the next entry. Produced by Mödling-based Gebhardt Productions and filming since October 2025, the postcards will feature the competing artists “immersed” in various scenic locations across Austria, with a physical postcard made for each.

Presenters. Austrian entertainers Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski were announced as the presenters of the 2026 contest on 29 January 2026.

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Results of the semi-final allocation draw: Blue – Participating countries in the first semi-final; Blue Light- Pre-qualified for the final but also voting in the first semi-final; Orange – Participating countries in the second semi-final; Orange Light – Pre-qualified for the final but also voting in the second semi-final

Semi-final allocation draw. The draw to determine the participating countries’ semi-finals took place on 12 January 2026 at 19:00 CET, at the Vienna City Hall. The thirty semi-finalists were divided over five pots, based on historical voting patterns, with the purpose of reducing the chance of “bloc voting” and increasing suspense in the semi-finals. The draw also determined which semi-final each of the five automatic qualifiers – host country Austria and the “Big Four” countries (France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom) – would vote in, be required to broadcast, and perform its entry in a non-competitive capacity. The ceremony was hosted by Alexandra Maritza Wachter and Cesár Sampson, and was preceded by the passing of a “friendship gift” from Conradin Cramer, the president of the Basel-Stadt government representing the previous host city Basel, to Michael Ludwig, the mayor and governor of Vienna.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4 Pot 5

 Albania

 Bulgaria

 Croatia

 Montenegro

 Serbia

  Switzerland

 Australia

 Denmark

 Estonia

 Finland

 Norway

 Sweden

 Armenia

 Azerbaijan

 Georgia

 Israel

 Poland

 Ukraine

 Belgium

 Czechia

 Luxembourg

 Moldova

 Portugal

 Romania

 Cyprus

 Greece

 Latvia

 Lithuania

 Malta

 San Marino

Contest overview. 

Semi-final 1. The first semi-final will take place on 12 May 2026 at 21:00 CEST. Fifteen countries will compete in this semi-final. Those countries plus Germany and Italy, as well as non-participating countries under an aggregated “Rest of the World” online vote, will vote in this semi-final. The running order (R/O) was determined by the contest producers and was announced publicly on 2 April. In addition to the competing entries, Italy and Germany will perform their entries during the show, appearing on stage after the entries from Georgia and Israel, respectively.

This semi-final will be opened by a 70-member choir performing the 1967 Luxembourgish entry “L’amour est bleu“, while the interval act will be “Kangaroo”, a musical performance by presenters Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski which highlights how to “distinguish Austria from Australia”, with an appearance by Go-Jo, who represented Australia in 2025.

(*) Qualifiers

First semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026
R/O Country Artist Song
1  Moldova Satoshi “Viva, Moldova!“
2  Sweden Felicia “My System”
3  Croatia Lelek “Andromeda“
4  Greece Akylas “Ferto“
5  Portugal Bandidos do Cante “Rosa“
6  Georgia Bzikebi “On Replay”
7  Finland Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen “Liekinheitin“
8  Montenegro Tamara Živković “Nova zora“
9  Estonia Vanilla Ninja “Too Epic to Be True”
10  Israel Noam Bettan “Michelle”
11  Belgium Essyla “Dancing on the Ice”
12  Lithuania Lion Ceccah “Sólo quiero más“
13  San Marino Senhit[b] “Superstar”
14  Poland Alicja “Pray”
15  Serbia Lavina “Kraj mene“

Semi-final 2. The second semi-final will take place on 14 May 2026 at 21:00 CEST. Fifteen countries will compete in this semi-final. Those countries plus Austria, France and the United Kingdom, as well as non-participating countries under an aggregated “Rest of the World” online vote, will vote in this semi-final. The running order (R/O) was determined by the contest producers and was announced publicly on 2 April. In addition to the competing entries, France, Austria, and the United Kingdom will perform their entries during the show, appearing on stage after the entries from Czechia, Cyprus, and Ukraine, respectively.

This semi-final will be opened by presenters Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski performing the 2025 winning song “Wasted Love” in a “self-deprecating” manner, while the interval will feature JJ performing a new single.

(*) Qualifiers

Second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026
R/O Country Artist Song
1  Bulgaria Dara “Bangaranga”
2  Azerbaijan Jiva “Just Go”
3  Romania Alexandra Căpitănescu “Choke Me”
4  Luxembourg Eva Marija “Mother Nature”
5  Czechia Daniel Zizka “Crossroads”
6  Armenia Simón “Paloma rumba“
7   Switzerland Veronica Fusaro “Alice”
8  Cyprus Antigoni “Jalla”
9  Latvia Atvara “Ēnā“
10  Denmark Søren Torpegaard Lund “Før vi går hjem“
11  Australia Delta Goodrem “Eclipse”
12  Ukraine Leléka “Ridnym“
13  Albania Alis “Nân“
14  Malta Aidan “Bella“
15  Norway Jonas Lovv “Ya Ya Ya”

Final. The final will take place on 16 May 2026 at 21:00 CEST and feature 25 competing countries: the host country Austria, the “Big Four”, and the ten best-ranked entries of each of the two semi-finals. All 35 participating countries with jury and televote, as well as non-participating countries under an aggregated “Rest of the World” online vote, will vote in the final.

The final will be opened by the flag parade, introducing all twenty-five finalists, accompanied by JJ performing a number titled “The Queen of the Night” with backing by the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, dancers, and acrobats. The interval acts will include former Eurovision entrants Lordi (winners for Finland in 2006), Verka Serduchka (Ukraine 2007), Il Volo (Italy 2015), and Erika Vikman (Finland 2025) performing new versions of past competing entries to celebrate the contest’s seventieth anniversary, Parov Stelar performing songs from his repertoire, and 2018 Austrian representative Cesár Sampson performing “Vienna”.

(+) Winner

Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026
Draw Country Artist Song
TBD  France Monroe “Regarde !“
 Germany Sarah Engels “Fire”
 Italy Sal Da Vinci “Per sempre sì“
 United Kingdom Look Mum No Computer “Eins, Zwei, Drei“
TBD 12 May 2026; 10 best ranked of semi-final 1
TBD 14 May 2026; 10 best ranked of semi-final 2
25  Austria Cosmó “Tanzschein“

Broadcasts. All participating broadcasters may choose to have on-site or remote commentators providing insight and voting information to their local audience. Although they are required to show the final and semi-final in which their country votes, most broadcasters cover all three shows. Some non-participating broadcasters also air the contest. The Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel provides international live streams with no commentary of all shows.

The following are the broadcasters that have confirmed in whole or in part their broadcasting plans and/or commentators:

Planned broadcasts and commentators in participating countries
Country Broadcaster Channel(s) Show(s) Commentator(s)
 Australia SBS TBA Courtney Act and Tony Armstrong
 Austria ORF FM4 Final Jan Böhmermann and Olli Schulz
 Belgium VRT VRT 1 All shows Peter Van de Veire
 Denmark DR DR1 All shows Ole Tøpholm
 Germany ARD/SWR Das Erste Final Thorsten Schorn
 Greece ERT TBA All shows Giorgos Kapoutzidis
 Israel IPBC Kan 11 All shows Asaf Liberman and Akiva Novick
 Italy RAI Rai 2 Semi-finals Gabriele Corsi and Elettra Lamborghini
Rai 1 Final
Rai Radio 2 All shows TBA
 Sweden SVT SVT1 All shows TBA
  Switzerland SRG SSR RSI La 1 All shows TBA
 United Kingdom BBC BBC One All shows TBA
BBC Radio 2 All shows TBA
Planned broadcasts and commentators in non-participating countries
Country Broadcaster Channel(s) Show(s) Commentator(s)
 Iceland RÚV RÚV 2  Final TBA
 Netherlands NOS and NTR NPO 1 All shows Henry Schut and Jeroen Kijk in de Vegte
 North Macedonia MRT MRT 1 All shows Macedonian: TBA
MRT 2 Albanian: TBA

Detailed results.

Semi-final 1. 

(*) Qualifiers

12 points. 

 

Semi-final 2. 

(*) Qualifiers

12 points. 

 

Final. 

‡  Winner

12 points. 

 

All the national selections for Eurovision Song Contest 2026 / Eurovision Song Contest 2026 – Participation summaries by country: 

• National Selections in 2025:

• Internal Selections in 2025:

Connections:

Spokespersons. 

Broadcasts. 

Other awards. 

Marcel Bezençon Awards. 

OGAE. 

Cover art of the official album

Official album. Eurovision Song Contest: Vienna 2026  is the official compilation album of the contest, featuring all 35 entries. It was put together by the European Broadcasting Union and will be released by Universal Music Group digitally on 17 April 2026, in CD format on 24 April 2026, and in vinyl format on 22 May 2026.

Charts.

Notes.

  • [a]^ On behalf of the German public broadcasting consortium ARD
  • [b]^ Features uncredited vocals by Boy George
  • [c]^ By the following sources
  • [d]^ From 2010 to 2015, the jury votes and televotes were combined into a single set of points, while from 2016 to 2022, the jury and the televote each awarded an independent set of points; the latter system is expected to return to the semi-finals in 2026.
  • [e]^ 
  • [f]^ abc 
  • [g]^ 
  • [h]^ ab 
  • [i]^ abc 
  • [j]^ 
  • [k]^ 
  • [l]^ ab 
  • [m]^ ab 
  • [n]^ ab 
  • [o]^ ab 
  • [p]^ ab 
  • [r]^ ab 
  • [s]^ 
  • [t]^  
  • [u]^ 
  • [v]^ 

← Eurovision Song Contest 2025 • Eurovision Song Contest 2026 • Eurovision Song Contest 2027 →

Countries (in order of appearance)
Final ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ United Kingdom • ? (winner) ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ Italy ⦁ ? ⦁ Germany ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ France ⦁ ? ⦁ Austria
First Semi-Final Croatia ⦁ Finland ⦁ Georgia ⦁ Greece ⦁ Moldova (winner) ⦁ Portugal ⦁ Sweden ⦁ Belgium ⦁ Estonia • Israel ⦁ Lithuania ⦁ Montenegro ⦁ Poland ⦁ San Marino • Serbia
Second Semi-Final Armenia ⦁ Azerbaijan ⦁ Bulgaria ⦁ Czechia ⦁ Luxembourg ⦁ Romania ⦁ Switzerland ⦁ Albania ⦁ Australia • Cyprus ⦁ Denmark ⦁ Latvia ⦁ Malta ⦁ Norway (winner) • Ukraine
Non-participating entries: Moldova 

Artists (in order of appearance)
Final ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER • ? (winner) ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ Sal Da Vinci ⦁ ? ⦁ Sarah Engels ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ ? ⦁ Monroe ⦁ ? ⦁ COSMÓ
First Semi-Final LELEK ⦁ Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen ⦁ Bzikebi (ბზიკები) ⦁ Akylas (Ακύλας) ⦁ Satoshi (winner) ⦁ Bandidos do Cante ⦁ FELICIA ⦁ ESSYKA ⦁ Vanilla Ninja • Noam Bettan (נועם בתן) ⦁ Lion Ceccah ⦁ Tamara Živković (Тамара Живковић) ⦁ ALICJA ⦁ Senhit[Features uncredited vocals by Boy George] • Lavina (Лавина)
Second Semi-Final SIMÓN (Սիմոն) ⦁ JIVA ⦁ DARA (Дара) ⦁ Daniel Žižka ⦁ Eva Marija ⦁ Alexandra Căpitănescu ⦁ Veronica Fusaro ⦁ Alis ⦁ Delta Goodrem • Antigoni (Αντιγόνη) ⦁ Søren Torpegaard Lund ⦁ Atvara ⦁ AIDAN ⦁ JONAS LOVV (winner) • Leléka (Лелека)
Non-participating entries:  –

Songs (in order of appearance)
Final “?” • “?” • “?” • “?” • “?” • “?” ⦁ “Eins, Zwei, Drei” (One, Two, Three) ⦁ “?” (winner) ⦁ “?” ⦁ “?” ⦁ “?” • “?” ⦁ “Per sempre sì” (Pe sempe sì, Forever Yes) ⦁ “?” ⦁ “Fire” (Feuer) ⦁ “?” ⦁ “?” ⦁ “?” ⦁ “?” • “?” ⦁ “?” ⦁ “?” ⦁ ”Regarde !” (Look !) ⦁ “?” ⦁ “Tanzchein” (Dance(-ing) Licence / Dance Permit) 
First Semi-Final “Andromeda” • “Liekinheitin” (Flamethrower) ⦁ “On Replay” (გამეორებაზე) ⦁ “Ferto” (Φέρτο, Bring it) ⦁ “Viva, Moldova!” (Long Live Moldova!; Trăiască, Moldova!) (winner) ⦁ “Rosa” (Rose) ⦁ “My System” (Mitt System) ⦁ “Dancing on the Ice” (Dansen op het IJs, Dansen op ‘t IJs, Danser Sur La Glace) ⦁ “Too Epic to Be True” • “Michelle” (מישל) ⦁ “Sólo quiero más” (Aš tiesiog noriu daugiau, I Just Want More) • “Nova zora” (Нова зора, New dawn) ⦁ “Pray” (Módl się) • “Superstar” • “Kraj mene” (Крај мене, Next to Me)
Second Semi-Final “Paloma rumba” (Պալոմա Ռումբա) • “Just Go” (Sadəcə çıx) ⦁ “Bangaranga” (Бангаранга) ⦁ “CROSSROADS” (Křižovatky) ⦁ “Mother Nature” ⦁ “Choke Me” Sufocă-mă) • “Alice” ⦁ “Nân” (Mother) ⦁ “Eclipse” • “JALLA” (Τζ’ Άλλα, Κι Άλλα, More) • “Før vi går hjem” (Before We Go Home) • “Ēnā” (In the shade) • “Bella” (Sabiħam, Beautiful) (winner) • “YA YA YA” • “Ridnym” (Рідним, To loved ones)
Non-participating entries:  –