ORF, the Austrian national broadcaster has confirmed to ESCToday its participation at the forthcoming 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine.

ORF has confirmed to ESCToday that Austria will opt for an internal selection in order to select its Eurovision act and entry for Kyiv. More details will be released in due course.

In 2016 Austria opted for a national selection in order to select its Eurovision act and entry for Stockholm. The young and beautiful Zoe won the golden ticket to fly the Austrian flag at the 2016 ESC with her entry L’oin d’ici. She achieved a 13th place in the grand final.

Austria debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957 and has won the competition twice in 1966 with Udo Jurgens and in 2014 with Conchita Wurst.

With Austria in the house, 31 countries have so far confirmed their intention to participate at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.

The period for countries to apply for participation at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest concluded on 15 September. Hereafter applicant countries have a grace period until 10 October to decide if they are to stay or not in the competition without facing a financial penalty.

The final and confirmed list of the ESC 2017 participating countries is expected to be released by the EBU by late December/early January.

The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held at the IEC in Kyiv on 9, 11 and 13 May.