ORF, the Austrian national broadcaster has announced today that 3 cities have been shortlisted in their bid  to host the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. Hence Vienna, Innsbruck and Graz will competing against each another in order to host Europe’s favourite television show next year.

Whilst Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle is the hot favourite to host the event, Innsbruck’s OlympiaWorld and Graz’s  Graz Stadthalle are also strong contenders in the grand race. One of the 3 cities and venues will host the 60th Eurovision Song Contest next year. The announcement of the 2015 Eurovision venue and host city is expected before August.

The Austrian broadcaster received a total of 12 applicantions bidding to host the 2015 on 13 June from 8 different cities. Today only 3 cities remain in the race: Insbruck, Vienna and Graz. Hence Oberwart, Flughafen, Wels, Klagenfurt and Unterpremstätten are now out of the race.

After careful consideration of all applications,  ORF has decided to conduct further discussions with the City of Vienna and the operators of the Wiener Stadthalle, the city of Graz and the operators of the Stadthalle Graz and Innsbruck and the operators of the Olympic World– ORF has stated .

Initially Vienna applied to bid for the forthcoming contest with a total of 5 options: Wiener Stadtahalle, Krieau,  Heldenplatz, Schönbrunn Palace and St. Marx, but the Schönbrunn Palace has announced it does not wish to host the event. Thus apart from the Wiener Stadthalle the remaining 3 venues are temporary back up options for Vienna.

Stay tuned to ESCToday for the latest news on Austria and the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest!