The 70th installment of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna, 2026.
Vienna, the beautiful Austrian capital, has been chosen to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The Wiener Stadthalle, inaugurated in 1958 and capable of accommodating 16,000 people, will play host to this grand event on May 16, 2026.
This will be the first time since 2018 that a capital city hosts the Eurovision Song Contest, and Vienna is no stranger to the event. The city previously hosted the contest in 1967 and 2015. The 2015 finale, following Conchita Wurst's victory and her anthem Rise Like a Phoenix, significantly increased the visibility of LGBT+ values.
However, the 2026 contest may face controversy. Israel's potential participation could stir up protests, as pro-Palestinian rallies and boycott calls are a possibility. This controversy is not new, as Vienna's urban landscape still bears witness to increased visibility of LGBT+ values, with traffic signal pedestrian crossings featuring same-sex couples.
The Israeli cosmetics brand Moroccanoil, the main advertising partner for the 2026 contest, may be a source of friction. Critics argue that such partnerships could politicise the event.
Austria, due to a European Commission procedure for excessive deficit, is facing a mountain of historical debt. The Alternative List Innsbruck (ALi) has criticised the hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, calling it a "gigantic event on credit" that would burden the city and budget for years.
The European Broadcasting Union, which organises the contest, may have surprises in store for the 70th edition. The Freedom Party (FPO, far-right) in Austria has also criticised the hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Despite these controversies, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna may contribute to further increasing the visibility of LGBT+ values. Johannes Pietsch, the 2023 contest winner, initially criticised Israel's participation and called for its exclusion in 2026, but later retracted his statement and apologised.
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna may face criticism for the involvement of certain advertising partners. However, the city remains optimistic, ready to welcome the world for this grand event.
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