European Union's Committee of Regions advocates for a decisive stand on the EU's future course.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Austria's public broadcaster ORF are set to announce the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on August 20, 2025. The competition is expected to take place in either Innsbruck or Vienna, Austria, with both cities vying for the opportunity to host Europe's largest music event.
Innsbruck, an Olympic city with extensive experience in hosting major events, has entered the bidding race after Austrian countertenor JJ's victory in Basel. The city, with a population of 130,000, has never hosted the Eurovision Song Contest before, but it offers a fresh hosting option with its alpine backdrop and an altitude advantage.
The final evaluation will consider venue capacity, availability, infrastructure, hotel accommodations, and press facilities. Innsbruck has the Olympiahalle as a potential venue, which can accommodate around 15,000 visitors for the semi-finals and final of the ESC. Small but fine events are also planned in the mountains of Innsbruck.
Vienna, on the other hand, is seen as the safe and experienced choice, having hosted Eurovision twice before (1967 and 2015). Its likely venue is the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena with a capacity of around 16,000 seats, which meets all EBU requirements. Vienna also boasts excellent transport connections, including a major international airport, extensive public transport, and ample accommodation options.
Walter Ruck, president of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, states that Vienna is better equipped than in 2015 to host the ESC 2026, with a quarter more hotel beds (around 80,000), better infrastructure, and professional event teams. The Prater Stadium and the Schönbrunn Palace Park offer opportunities for events and productions in Vienna.
The regional economy of Innsbruck would receive a significant boost from hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, which was attended by around 500,000 people in Basel last May. Innsbruck is confident of securing the hosting role for the ESC 2026, with tourism chief Anzengruber describing the expected atmosphere in Innsbruck as the whole city being the ESC.
As of August 15, 2025, the hosting city between Innsbruck and Vienna has not been finalized. The official announcement will be made on August 20, 2025, and the excitement is building as Europe awaits the decision.
Following their successful bid, Innsbruck seeks to utilize its alpine backdrop and venue capacity in the Olympiahalle for entertaining sports and music fans at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. On the contrary, Vienna, with its historic experience in hosting the competition, proposes to use the Wiener Stadthalle for the event, offering a blend of entertainment, music, and sports in a city boasting excellent transport connections.
