Eurovision 2026: World’s biggest music event to be held in Vienna. Check dates, venue, and ticket details

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is officially heading to Vienna, Austria.

Austria’s public broadcaster ORF confirmed on Wednesday that the world’s largest live music event will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle in May 2026. The announcement follows Austrian singer JJ’s victory at Eurovision 2025 in Basel with his operatic-techno fusion hit Wasted Love.

“After thorough examination and based on a unanimous jury assessment, ORF has concluded that Vienna’s bid is the most attractive not only in terms of infrastructure and logistics, but also economically,” said ORF Director General Roland Weissmann.


Vienna won the hosting rights over Innsbruck, marking the third time the Austrian capital will stage Eurovision, after previously hosting in 1967 and 2015.

Mayor Michael Ludwig celebrated the decision, writing on X: “I am delighted that Vienna has prevailed and will once again represent Austria next year. I am convinced we will have a wonderful May together.”

JJ, whose full name is Johannes Pietsch, became Austria’s third Eurovision winner, following Conchita Wurst (2014) and Udo Jürgens (1966).

The last Eurovision contest drew an audience of around 160 million viewers worldwide, cementing its place as one of the most-watched entertainment shows on the planet.

Eurovision 2026 Dates and Schedule

The competition will feature three live shows in Vienna, all starting at 21:00 CEST:

Semi-Final 1: Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Semi-Final 2: Thursday, 14 May 2026
Grand Final: Saturday, 16 May 2026

In addition to the live broadcasts, jury and family rehearsals will take place ahead of each show. These rehearsals mirror the performances but exclude the official voting. The jury rehearsal on 15 May will play a crucial role, as national juries cast their votes based on it.

How to Get Tickets for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna

Tickets are expected to go on sale in late 2025. The timeline depends on finalizing key arrangements such as the venue setup, seating plan, stage design, and ticketing agency.

Typically, Eurovision tickets are released in batches, covering:

Live shows (semi-finals and grand final)
Jury rehearsals
Family shows

Fans planning to attend are advised to follow Eurovision.tv and ORF’s official channels for updates on the ticket release.