European Union's Future Favoured by The Committee of the Regions Decision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is set to take place in Austria, with Vienna and Innsbruck vying for the hosting role. The Austrian broadcaster ORF will make the final decision on August 20, 2022.
Vienna, Austria's capital, is confident of securing the hosting role. As a city with experience in hosting large events and Eurovision before (in 1967 and 2015), Vienna is well-equipped for the contest. With a quarter more hotel beds (around 80,000), improved infrastructure, and professional event teams, Vienna is ready to welcome the world.
The Prater Stadium and the Schönbrunn Palace Park in Vienna offer opportunities for events and productions for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
However, Innsbruck, the fifth-largest city in Austria, is presenting a strong alternative. Innsbruck joined the bidding process after Austrian singer JJ won the competition in Basel in 2025. The city, with a population of 130,000, is confident of securing the hosting role for the ESC 2026.
Innsbruck has sufficient hotel beds to accommodate the ESC, according to Mayor Anzengruber. Within a 25-kilometer radius of Innsbruck, tens of thousands of beds are available. All events in Innsbruck can be reached on foot in just 15 minutes.
If Innsbruck is chosen, it would aim to incorporate the adjacent alpine backdrop with approximately 2,000-meter-high mountains into the competition. Small but fine events are planned in the mountains if Innsbruck hosts the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
The regional economy anticipates the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Innsbruck would be a very welcome impetus, given that it attracted around 500,000 people to Basel in 2025.
Walter Ruck, president of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, stated that if not in Vienna, the Song Contest 2026 should not take place anywhere else in Austria. However, Innsbruck is equally confident, with the final decision expected on August 20, 2022.
The final of the ESC 2026 is scheduled for May 16 or 23, 2026. Regardless of where the contest takes place, Austrians are eagerly anticipating the event, with the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 expected to be a memorable occasion for the country.
References: [1] Austrian Press Agency [2] ORF [3] The Local [4] Eurovision.tv [5] Eurovision Wiki
Vienna, with its extensive experience in hosting large events and prior Eurovision events, is keen on incorporating music and entertainment into the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 by utilizing venues like the Prater Stadium and Schönbrunn Palace Park. Meanwhile, Innsbruck, confident of securing the hosting role, aims to complement sports and music by integrating the adjacent alpine backdrop into the competition, offering small, fine events in the mountains if selected.
