European Union's future direction endorsed by Committee of the Regions
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is set to take place in Austria, with the host city decision pending between Innsbruck and Vienna. The official announcement is expected on August 20, 2025 [1][2].
Both cities submitted bids by the July 4, 2025 deadline and are being evaluated primarily on venue suitability, accommodation capacity, and infrastructure.
Vienna, with a population of two million, offers the Wiener Stadthalle, a proven venue with around 16,000 seats and strong logistics, including excellent airport connectivity and abundant hotel options in the capital city. It has hosted Eurovision twice before (1967 and 2015), making it the "safe bet" with strong experience in managing the event [1][3][5].
Innsbruck, with a population of 130,000, presents an appealing alternative. While it lacks prior hosting experience, it offers a distinctive story and altitude advantage. The city's tourism chief, Peter Paul Mölk, stated that if the Eurovision Song Contest comes to Innsbruck, "the whole city will be ESC" [4].
The city's plans include the Olympiahalle, confirmed to be in top condition for the contest, and smaller events in the mountains surrounding Innsbruck. All events can be reached on foot within 15 minutes [4].
Innsbruck has extensive experience hosting major events, being an Olympic city and host of world and European championships. It has sufficient hotel beds within a 25-kilometer radius to accommodate the Eurovision Song Contest [4]. The Olympiahalle can accommodate around 15,000 spectators for the semi-finals and final of the Eurovision Song Contest [4].
Innsbruck did not hesitate to join the bidding race for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 after JJ's victory in Basel. The city's inclusion of the adjacent alpine backdrop with its approximately 2,000-meter-high mountains during the contest would be a welcome boost for the regional economy, as indicated by Anzengruber [2].
The Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in 2026 could potentially attract around 500,000 people, similar to the attendance in Basel last May [1]. Walter Ruck, president of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, expressed confidence that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in Vienna [1].
The cities' final selection will weigh these factors along with organizational and security capabilities [1][3][5]. The decision rests with ORF (Austrian broadcaster) and the EBU, who will make it official on August 20, 2025, soon with further details on preparation plans to follow [1][2][4].
| Aspect | Vienna | Innsbruck | |-----------------------|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | Venue capacity | Wiener Stadthalle (~16,000 seats) | Venue proposed with >10,000 capacity | | Previous Eurovision experience | Hosted twice (1967, 2015) | No prior hosting | | Accessibility | Major international airport, extensive public transport | Smaller airport and transport network | | Accommodation | Extensive hotels and options in city | More limited, potentially more expensive | | Organizational experience | Strong Eurovision pedigree | Emerging contender with fresh appeal |
[1] The Local [2] ORF [3] Eurovision [4] Austrian Times [5] Eurovisionary
The city of Vienna, boasting a two million population and previous Eurovision hosting experience, presents a strong case with its proven venue, the Wiener Stadthalle, offering around 16,000 seats and excellent logistics. On the other hand, Innsbruck, while lacking prior hosting experience, offers the Olympiahalle with a seating capacity of approximately 15,000 for the semi-finals and final of the Eurovision Song Contest, along with smaller events in the mountains surrounding the city, all reachable within 15 minutes.
