ORF, the Austrian national broadcaster, has unveiled the Eurovision 2026 stage in Vienna.
The Eurovision 2026 stage has been designed by Florian Wieder. Florian Wieder is an internationally acclaimed stage designer and was the man behind the Eurovision stages in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2025.
The Green Room will be connected to the Eurovision stage via a walkway which will enable the winner to walk through the audience.
The Concept behind the stage
The Eurovision 2026 stage has been inspired by the Viennese Secession and features the leaf, the curved lie and the construct.
The EBU’s official press release reads:
The creative spirit of the Viennese Secession lies at the centre of the stage-design concept. And like that art movement once did, ORF’s production wants to deliberately break conventions and allow new forms. It’s about courage for renewal, openness to radical creativity and a new freedom of design.
Three design leitmotifs will convey this idea to viewers of Vienna 2026 in May:
The Leaf
A symbol of origin and potential, it stands for new beginnings and shared design. Diverse music from all over Europe is written on it.
The Curved Line
An expression of resonance, development and musical movement, it embodies connection, emotion and Viennese charm.
The Construct
A golden structure that connects art with functionality, it creates order, supports artistic vision and forms a deliberate contrast to the organic curved line.
In the connection of these elements, a stage design emerges that both preserves the DNA of the Eurovision Song Contest and breaks new creative ground.
The Green Room will be directly connected to the stage via a walkway – which, among other things, will enable a Winner’s Walk through the audience.
Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz (ORF Program Director) says:
This stage perfectly embodies what the ORF stands for: creative innovation, cultural roots, and the highest technical quality. It combines the Austrian soul with international ambition and creates a space where grand visuals can be created without losing sight of the human moments. This design is bold, elegant, and embodies Austrian character – making it the perfect stage for a Eurovision Song Contest in the heart of Europe.
Florian Wieder (ESC 2026 Stage Designer) says:
The Eurovision Song Contest offers a unique opportunity: not to repeat what already exists, but to transform it, reinterpret it, and develop it further.I see it as an invitation to break with established patterns, to be bold, to create unique visuals, and to lead the audience into an experience that both retains the DNA of the ESC and is radically new.
Michael Kron (Eurovision 2026 Executive Producer) says:
This vision is particularly meaningful for us because it reflects our public service responsibility to bring people together and make cultural diversity accessible to everyone. On its 70th anniversary, it tells the story of a Europe whose hearts continue to beat united despite all challenges and which shapes its shared future through the power of music.
Roland Weißmann (ORF General Director) says:
We are rapidly approaching the new year and thus also the live shows at the Vienna Stadthalle in May. I am therefore particularly pleased that we can present a breathtaking stage design that will more than meet the high standards of the world’s biggest TV entertainment event. This creates the perfect setting for three brilliant live music shows that will captivate the audience with spectacular staging and powerful performances.
This is the tenth stage that Florian has designed for Eurovision. You can check out the stage in action in the video below:
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 12, 14 and 16 May at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria
