Eurovision 2026 Vienna: Venue, Participants & Guide
70th Eurovision details: Wiener Stadthalle, participants, and travel connectivity guide for Austria.
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Eurovision Song Contest 2026
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition is scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria, and will consist of two semi-finals on 12 and 14 May, followed by the Grand Final on 16 May 2026 at the Wiener Stadthalle.
The event will be hosted by Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski, with Emily Busvine serving as the green room host. The contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Austrian broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), following Austria’s victory in the 2025 contest with the song “Wasted Love” by JJ.
Host City and Venues
The 2026 edition will take place in Vienna, marking the third time Austria has hosted the contest (previously in 1967 and 2015, both also in Vienna). The main venue will be Wiener Stadthalle, a 16,152-seat indoor arena that previously hosted the contest in 2015.
Additional official locations include:
- Rathausplatz – Eurovision Village with live performances and public screenings
- Prater Dome – EuroClub and official after-parties
- Burgtheater – Turquoise Carpet event and opening ceremony
Participation Overview
A total of 35 countries will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. This is two fewer than in 2025 and the lowest number of participating countries since 2003, before the introduction of semi-finals.
Returning countries:
- Bulgaria
- Moldova
- Romania
Non-participating countries (boycott):
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- Slovenia
- Spain
These countries withdrew in protest of Israel’s inclusion in the context of the Gaza war, marking one of the largest boycotts in Eurovision history since 1970.
Participating Countries and Entries
| Country | Broadcaster | Artist | Song | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | RTSH | Alis | “Nân” | Albanian |
| Armenia | AMPTV | Simón | “Paloma Rumba” | English |
| Australia | SBS | Delta Goodrem | “Eclipse” | English |
| Austria | ORF | Cosmó | “Tanzschein” | German |
| Azerbaijan | İTV | Jiva | “Just Go” | English/Azerbaijani |
| Belgium | RTBF | Essyla | “Dancing on the Ice” | English |
| Bulgaria | BNT | Dara | “Bangaranga” | English |
| Croatia | HRT | Lelek | “Andromeda” | Croatian |
| Cyprus | CyBC | Antigoni | “Jalla” | English/Greek |
| Czechia | ČT | Daniel Zizka | “Crossroads” | English |
| Denmark | DR | Søren Torpegaard Lund | “Før vi går hjem” | Danish |
| Estonia | ERR | Vanilla Ninja | “Too Epic to Be True” | English |
| Finland | Yle | Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen | “Liekinheitin” | Finnish |
| France | France Télévisions | Monroe | “Regarde!” | French |
| Georgia | GPB | Bzikebi | “On Replay” | English |
| Germany | SWR | Sarah Engels | “Fire” | English |
| Greece | ERT | Akylas | “Ferto” | Greek |
| Israel | IPBC | Noam Bettan | “Michelle” | French/Hebrew/English |
| Italy | RAI | Sal Da Vinci | “Per sempre sì” | Italian |
| Latvia | LSM | Atvara | “Ēnā” | Latvian |
| Lithuania | LRT | Lion Ceccah | “Sólo quiero más” | Lithuanian/English |
| Luxembourg | RTL | Eva Marija | “Mother Nature” | English |
| Malta | PBS | Aidan | “Bella” | English/Maltese |
| Moldova | TRM | Satoshi | “Viva, Moldova!” | Romanian |
| Montenegro | RTCG | Tamara Živković | “Nova zora” | Montenegrin |
| Norway | NRK | Jonas Lovv | “Ya Ya Ya” | English |
| Poland | TVP | Alicja | “Pray” | English |
| Portugal | RTP | Bandidos do Cante | “Rosa” | Portuguese |
| Romania | TVR | Alexandra Căpitănescu | “Choke Me” | English |
| San Marino | SMRTV | Senhit | “Superstar” | English |
| Serbia | RTS | Lavina | “Kraj mene” | Serbian |
| Sweden | SVT | Felicia | “My System” | English |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR | Veronica Fusaro | “Alice” | English |
| Ukraine | Suspilne | Leléka | “Ridnym” | English/Ukrainian |
| United Kingdom | BBC | Look Mum No Computer | “Eins, Zwei, Drei” | English |
Returning Artists
The 2026 contest will also feature several returning artists:
- Vanilla Ninja (Estonia) – previously represented Switzerland in 2005
- Senhit (San Marino) – previously represented San Marino in 2011 and 2021
- Alicja (Poland) – originally selected for Eurovision 2020
- Aliona Moon (Moldova) – former Moldova representative (2013), returning as backing vocalist
- Bzikebi (Georgia) – Junior Eurovision 2008 winners
- Essyla (Belgium) – previously performed in Eurovision Choir 2019
Stay Connected in Vienna with eSIMfo
For fans traveling from abroad to experience the magic of Eurovision live in Austria, staying connected is essential. Share every live performance and find your way through Vienna without any interruptions.
By choosing an eSIM, visitors can avoid high roaming costs and enjoy instant high-speed data as soon as they land. Stay connected with friends and the global Eurovision community throughout the entire 70th-anniversary celebration.
Conclusion
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most politically and musically significant editions in recent years. With a reduced number of participating countries, major political boycotts, and returning nations, the contest is expected to attract global attention both on and off the stage.
Vienna will once again transform into the cultural capital of Europe, hosting fans, artists, and delegations from across the continent for one of the world’s biggest live music events.