ORF, the Austrian national broadcaster has confirmed to ESCToday that Austria will participate at the forthcoming 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm next year.
Thus Austria is the 22nd to confirm its participation at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled to be held on 10, 12 and 14 May at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
ORF held a press conference today in order to present its forthcoming season’s projects and television schedule, where the broadcaster also confirmed its presence at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm. The Austrian broadcaster hosted the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest successfully in Vienna last May.
Austria will hold a national selection once again in order to select its Eurovision act and entry for Stockholm. More details and information regarding the 2016 Austrian national selection will be released in due course.
In 2015 Austria selected its Eurovision act via a national selection. The Makemakes won the 2015 Austrian national final and got the golden ticket to represent Austria at the 2015 ESC on home soil with their entry I am yours. Despite an energetic performance the boys failed to score in the grand final in Vienna.
The deadline for countries to submit their respective applications to the EBU in order to participate at the 61st Eurovision Song Contest has been set on 15 September, hereafter applicant countries have a grace period until 10 October to decide wether they wish to stay in the competition or not without facing a financial penalty.
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.
