The race for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 host city is about to kick off in Austria, as the dust settles after the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. Several Austrian cities seem to be interested in welcoming the Eurovision bandwagon next year, with all its glam, glitz and glitter.
Austria was crowned the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 last Saturday when JJ stormed to victory with his entry ‘Wasted Love’.
Austria will have the grand honour of hosting the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, namely the 70th edition of the competition. Several cities have expressed their desire to host the competition next year.
The Mayor of Innsbruck Johannes Anzengruber (JA – Jetzt Innsbruck) told ORF Tirol:
I’ve already given the order to prepare all the documents. We’ve had discussions with the tourism association, and we’re also in talks with ORF and the event venues about how we can make a good offer for our city.
The City of Innsbruck was one of the shortlisted cities for Eurovision 2015 and has got a concept and bid book already prepared, it will tweak and update it if it bids to host ESC 2026.
Matthias Schipflinger ( The Managing Director of Olympia World Innsbruck( told ORF:
We also applied in 2015, and Vienna was chosen that time. We submitted a very good concept back then, and of course, we still have it in our drawer. We will now update it and compare it with the new requirements. Then we will decide whether to apply.
The concept encompasses the entire city. The Song Contest extends beyond the Olympiahalle. Spaces at the trade fair and congress center are also needed for corresponding side events. It’s about bringing together all the forces in the city,
Innsbruck intends to bid Eurovision 2026 at the Olympia Halle which can accomodate 12,000 spectators. The city already bid to host ESC 2015 at the same venue. The capital of Tyrol is all set to bid for Eurovision 2026.
The City of Innsbruck plans to host the event in a close coeperation between the state, the city, Austria Tourist Board, Tyrol Tourist Board, and Innsbruck Tourist Board.
ORF is yet to open the Eurovision 2026 Host City Bidding race. Several cities have already expressed their desire to host Eurovision 2026: Graz, Vienna, Oberwart and Wells
