In May 2026, Vienna will once again host the Eurovision Song Contest. Following Austria's victory at the 2025 contest with JJ's "Wasted Love," the city previously welcomed Eurovision in 1967 and 2015.
The dates are set: semi-finals on May 12th and 14th, with the grand final on Saturday, May 16th. Taking place at the same location as in 2025, the Wiener Stadthalle, a 16,000-seat arena, will host the performances. While the historic Rathausplatz transforms into the Eurovision Village—a free, open-air gathering space where the contest's energy spills out into the streets. Between the 10th and 17th May 2026 numerous events will take place in public spaces, free of charge.
During contest week studies estimate that 88,000 additional visitors will descend on Vienna. The media exposure value sits somewhere around €730 million. But numbers don't quite capture what it feels like when a city simultaneously hosts 31 nations, over 1,500 journalists, and tens of thousands of fans draped in flags and glitter.
Starting on the 10th May, the Opening Ceremony brings the "Turquoise Carpet" to Vienna City Hall (aka Rathaus Vienna). There, contestants meet press and fans before the competition begins. The Wiener Rathaus also houses the EuroClub, organizing official after-parties and private performances throughout the week. These aren't merely side events: they're where Eurovision's peculiar magic often happens, away from the cameras and voting drama.
At the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz screens will broadcast the live shows. Local artists will perform alongside contest participants. Expect the square to hum with the particular energy that only Eurovision generates—that curious mixture of earnest patriotism, ironic appreciation, and genuine musical discovery.
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest
This marks the 70th Eurovision Song Contest Vienna milestone, carrying significant weight in the competition's history. What began in 1956 as a modest experiment in European broadcasting cooperation has evolved into something far stranger and more wonderful—a genuinely continent-wide shared experience, watched by roughly 200 million people, where Cyprus and Greece exchange maximum points with predictable regularity and occasionally a Moldovan epic sax player or Finnish heavy metal band crashes the party.
Vienna becomes the fourth city to host Eurovision three times, joining Copenhagen, Malmö, and Stockholm. Only Dublin, London, and Luxembourg City have done it more often. There's a certain poetry in that—Vienna, with its imperial history and musical pedigree, standing alongside Eurovision's most dedicated hosts.
Your Eurovision Vienna 2026 Visitor Guide
For those planning to attend, official tickets will become available through oeticket.com early in 2026. But Eurovision has always been as much about the atmosphere beyond the arena as the performances within it. The free events, the Eurovision Village, the impromptu performances in cafés and squares—Vienna in mid-May 2026 will be a city turned inside out by music, community, and the gloriously unpredictable spectacle that is Eurovision.
The contest returns to where it belongs: a city that understands both the gravitas and the joy of bringing a continent together through song.
How To Get Tickets For Eurovision 2026 In Vienna
For those planning to attend, official tickets will become available through Oeticket early in 2026. But Eurovision has always been as much about the atmosphere beyond the arena as the performances within it. The free events, the village, the impromptu performances in cafés and squares—Vienna in mid-May 2026 will be a city turned inside out by music, community, and the gloriously unpredictable spectacle that is Eurovision.
Booking Accommodation For Eurovision 2026
With 88,000 additional visitors expected during Eurovision week, accommodation in Vienna will be in high demand. The city offers over 80,000 hotel beds across all price ranges, from budget hostels to luxury properties, but early booking is essential. Areas near the Wiener Stadthalle in the 15th district (Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus) provide convenient access to the venue, while staying in the historic 1st district keeps you close to the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz. Vienna's excellent public transport system means you're never far from the action—the U6, U3, and tram lines connect major hotel areas to both main Eurovision locations. Consider booking by late 2025 or early 2026 to secure the best rates and locations, as prices typically rise significantly as the event approaches.
Eurovision 2026 Vienna Schedule: Complete Programme
Main Events at Wiener Stadthalle
Eurovision Opening Ceremony Vienna Sunday, 10th May, 2026 Vienna City Hall (Wiener Rathaus) Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Vienna Turquoise Carpet and contestant presentations
First Semi-Final Tuesday, 12th May, 2026 Wiener Stadthalle Roland-Rainer-Platz 1, 1150 Vienna
Second Semi-Final Thursday, 14th May, 2026 Wiener Stadthalle Roland-Rainer-Platz 1, 1150 Vienna
Grand Final - 70th Eurovision Song Contest Saturday, 16th May, 2026 Wiener Stadthalle Roland-Rainer-Platz 1, 1150 Vienna
Eurovision 2026 Free Events
Eurovision Village Rathausplatz Sunday, May 10 - Sunday, May 17, 2026 Daily: 11:00 - 24:00 Rathausplatz Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz, 1010 Vienna Live screenings of all shows, performances by contestants and local artists Admission: Free
EuroClub Throughout Eurovision Week Vienna Vienna City Hall (Wiener Rathaus) Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Vienna Official after-parties and private performances
Getting to Wiener Stadthalle Eurovision Venue
Wiener Stadthalle:
- U6 to Burggasse-Stadthalle station
- U3 to Schweglerstraße station
- Trams 6 and 18 to Burggasse-Stadthalle
Eurovision Village Rathausplatz:
- U2 to Rathaus station
- Trams 1, 2, D, 71 to Rathausplatz/Burgtheater
- U3 to Volkstheater station (short walk)
What Else To Do In Vienna During Eurovision 2026?
During the Eurovision Song Contest Vienna hosts a whole range of other events, such as the Vienna Festival, the European Streetfood Festival, the Flaniermarkt in Neubaugasse, and just two days before (8th May), the annual Open Air concert Ode To Joy. Find out more in Things to do in Vienna in May.
