Jump to content

Eurovision Song Contest 2026

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eurovision Song Contest 2026
United by Music[1]
Logo of the Eurovision Song Contest Austria 2026, without any city information
Dates
Semi-final 1May 2026
Semi-final 2May 2026
FinalMay 2026
Host
VenueTBD, Austria
Host broadcasterÖsterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF)
Participants
(provisional; as of May 2025)
Expressed interest7
  • A coloured map of the countries of EuropePortugal in the Eurovision Song ContestSpain in the Eurovision Song ContestSan Marino in the Eurovision Song ContestFrance in the Eurovision Song ContestUnited Kingdom in the Eurovision Song ContestIreland in the Eurovision Song ContestIceland in the Eurovision Song ContestBelgium in the Eurovision Song ContestNetherlands in the Eurovision Song ContestSwitzerland in the Eurovision Song ContestGermany in the Eurovision Song ContestDenmark in the Eurovision Song ContestMalta in the Eurovision Song ContestItaly in the Eurovision Song ContestNorway in the Eurovision Song ContestSweden in the Eurovision Song ContestFinland in the Eurovision Song ContestEstonia in the Eurovision Song ContestLatvia in the Eurovision Song ContestLithuania in the Eurovision Song ContestSlovakia in the Eurovision Song ContestAustria in the Eurovision Song ContestSlovenia in the Eurovision Song ContestHungary in the Eurovision Song ContestCroatia in the Eurovision Song ContestBosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song ContestMontenegro in the Eurovision Song ContestSerbia in the Eurovision Song ContestAlbania in the Eurovision Song ContestNorth Macedonia in the Eurovision Song ContestGreece in the Eurovision Song ContestBulgaria in the Eurovision Song ContestRomania in the Eurovision Song ContestMoldova in the Eurovision Song ContestUkraine in the Eurovision Song ContestBelarus in the Eurovision Song ContestAustralia in the Eurovision Song ContestRussia in the Eurovision Song ContestGeorgia in the Eurovision Song ContestAzerbaijan in the Eurovision Song ContestTurkey in the Eurovision Song ContestCyprus in the Eurovision Song ContestIsrael in the Eurovision Song ContestArmenia in the Eurovision Song ContestMorocco in the Eurovision Song ContestLiechtenstein in the Eurovision Song ContestAndorra in the Eurovision Song ContestMonaco in the Eurovision Song ContestPoland in the Eurovision Song ContestCzech Republic in the Eurovision Song ContestLuxembourg in the Eurovision Song ContestLebanon in the Eurovision Song ContestTunisia in the Eurovision Song Contest
         Countries which have provisionally confirmed their participation in 2026     Countries which have participated in past editions
2025 ← Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It is set to take place in Austria, following the country's victory at the 2025 contest with the song "Wasted Love" by JJ. It will be organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF).[2][3] This will be the third time that the country hosts the contest, having done so in 1967 and 2015, both held in Vienna.

Location

[edit]

Initial biddings

[edit]
class=notpageimage|
Cities that expressed interest in hosting

Following Austria's win in the 2025 contest, several cities across Austria expressed interest in hosting the 2026 edition. ORF's director general Roland Weißmann [de] emphasised venue suitability and proximity to airports as key criteria in the selection process, while ORF's program director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz [de] noted the lack of newly built large arenas in recent years but encouraged municipalities with viable plans to submit bids.[4]

On 18 May 2025, the mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, confirmed the city's intention to bid.[5] The same day, Graz stated that it was examining a potential bid, with mayor Elke Kahr pointing to Stadthalle Graz as a suitable venue.[6][7] The Schwarzl Freizeit Zentrum, also in Graz, was proposed as a potential venue by its concert manager and operator, Klaus Leutgeb.[8] Also on 18 May, Innsbruck and Wels confirmed that they would bid with the Olympiahalle and a new exhibition hall, respectively.[9][10] Oberwart also expressed interest in hosting the 2026 event.[11] On 19 May, St. Pölten mayor Matthias Stadler proposed VAZ St. Pölten [de] as a possible arena.[12] On 26 May, Ebreichsdorf presented a proposal to host in a temporary venue.[13]

Klagenfurt rejected a bid, while the state of Carinthia, where Klagenfurt is located, noted that a previous evaluation ahead of the 2015 contest found that the Wörthersee Stadion would require "costly adaptations" to meet hosting requirements; as a result, it was determined that hosting the event in the region was "not possible".[14] Salzburg ultimately decided against submitting a bid, with Mayor Bernhard Auinger attributing the decision to budgetary limitations and the unavailability of the Salzburgarena as a suitable venue.[15][16] The state of Salzburg, however, expressed optimism, with a spokesperson for Deputy Governor and state councillor for tourism Stefan Schnöll expressing that with "pragmatic creativity" it may be possible to find a suitable venue in the state.[17]

Provisional list of participants

[edit]
Further information: List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest

Eligibility for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest requires a national broadcaster with active EBU membership capable of receiving the contest via the Eurovision network and broadcasting it live nationwide. The EBU issues an invitation to participate in the contest to all active members.

As of May 2025, broadcasters from the following countries have publicly confirmed their intention to participate in the 2026 contest:

Provisional participants of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026
Country Broadcaster Artist Song Language Songwriter(s) Ref.
 Austria ORF [18]
 Denmark DR TBD 14 February 2026 [19]
 Finland Yle TBD 28 February 2026 [20]
 Greece ERT [21][22]
 Netherlands AVROTROS [23][24]
 Serbia RTS [25][26]
 United Kingdom BBC [27]

Other countries

[edit]
  •  Andorra – On 4 February 2025, Catalan radio station RAC 1 reported that Catalan broadcaster TV3 is in talks with Andorran broadcaster RTVA with a proposal to collaborate on a potential return of the latter to the contest in 2026.[28][29] According to reports, it was proposed that TV3's music talent show Eufòria would be used to select Andorra's Eurovision representative.[30] TV3 has previously worked with RTVA to select a representative for their debut participation in the contest in 2004.[31][32] On 26 May 2025, RTVA confirmed it would not participate in 2026 and would not collaborate with TV3 for an possible return.[33] Andorra last took part in 2009.
  •  Belgium – On 20 May 2025, Flemish broadcaster VRT, which was responsible for Belgium's participation in 2025, stated it would reconsider its future participation if the EBU does not review the voting system, in light of that year's results.[34] Walloon broadcaster RTBF, which is in turn to participate for Belgium in 2026, stated that it supports the stance of its Flemish counterpart.[35]
  •  Bosnia and Herzegovina – On 13 May 2025, the former head of the Bosnian delegation, Lejla Babović, gave an interview in which she explained the reasons by which the Bosnian broadcaster BHRT is still unable to return to the contest. Nevertheless, Babović said that there is a possibility of a return in 2026, stating: "If we pay off the debt by November [2025] and start working seriously on participating, we can come back in 2026, but it requires efforts from BHRT, the state, sponsors and people to choose the right song and come back as serious competitors."[36] Bosnia and Herzegovina last took part in 2016.
  •  Germany – In January 2025, German broadcaster ARD announced it would switch the organisation of Germany's participation in the contest from regional broadcaster NDR, which had been in charge since 1996, to SWR starting in 2026.[37] However, a confirmation of participation in 2026 is pending.
  •  Latvia – In 2023, Liena Edwards, executive director of the Latvian Music Producers Association, signed an agreement with Latvian broadcaster LTV, in which the organisation pledged to support Latvia's Eurovision representatives with €5,000 annually from 2023 to 2026 so that "Latvian music reaches and is heard across the continent".[38] An official confirmation of participation in 2026 is pending.
  •  Luxembourg – On 26 January 2025, Luxembourg broadcaster RTL Lëtzebuerg, via its official Eurovision account on Instagram, announced a 2026 edition of the Luxembourg Song Contest, which had served as the national final format since the country's return to the contest in 2024.[39] On 19 May, the broadcaster stated that it had not yet decided whether it would take part in 2026, but that it was in discussions with the Luxembourgish government, which has been responsible for funding its participation since its 2024 return, and that a final decision would be made in the coming weeks.[40][41]
  •  Montenegro – Montesong producer Danijel Alibabić called for Montenegrin authorities to get more involved in the country's Eurovision efforts in 2026.[42] Head of delegation for the country, Vladana Vučinić, stated in a post-Eurovision article: "See you next year".[43]
  •  North Macedonia – On 7 November 2024, the Macedonian newspaper Fokus reported that an employee of Macedonian broadcaster MRT anonymously admitted in an interview with them that the station's management is convinced that there is a need for a new selection format that should keep up with the ever-increasing Eurovision standards. He also assured that the Macedonian broadcaster is doing "everything in their power" to ensure the country's participation "on a level", even as early as the 2026 contest.[44] On 16 May 2025, Macedonian journalist Aleksandra Jovanovska (who was also a member of the Macedonian delegation until the country's last participation in the contest and a commentator on the contest for MRT in 2009, 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025) gave an interview on the MRT programme Makedonija nautro, in which she said that MRT is still interested in a return. She has also admitted that there are a number of artists who have already expressed their readiness to represent the country in the contest should it return, but that the biggest problem at the moment is the lack of a suitable selection format, and the MakFest festival could not fulfil this role, as "the level of songs at this event deviates from the level of the European and world stage". Another problem mentioned is the cost of participation, Jovanovska pointed out as examples the funds needed for staging, pyrotechnics, lighting and paying performance directors.[45] North Macedonia last took part in 2022.
  •  Slovenia – On 9 March 2024, Mario Galunič [sl], editor at the Slovenian broadcaster, RTVSLO, drafted a document, with one of the points being a plan to return to selecting Slovene entries for Eurovision through the national final EMA [es; sl] from 2025 until 2028.[46][47] EMA was eventually organised in 2025. On 26 May 2025, RTVSLO stated that the broadcaster's director, Ksenija Horvat, had contacted the EBU and that it would reconsider its participation in the contest if the union did not respond adequately to concerns surrounding the "transparency of the vote", referring to Israel's televote win in 2025.[48]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "'United By Music' chosen as permanent Eurovision slogan". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 14 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Eurovision 2025 winner's press conference with JJ". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  3. ^ Granger, Anthony (18 May 2025). "🇦🇹 Austria: ORF Commences Eurovision 2026 Work & Special Programming Celebrating JJ's Victory Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Eurovision 2025 winner's press conference with JJ". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  5. ^ Conte, Davide (18 May 2025). "🇦🇹 Eurovision 2026: Vienna Interested in Hosting Again". Eurovoix. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  6. ^ Granger, Anthony (18 May 2025). "🇦🇹 Austria: ORF Commences Eurovision 2026 Work & Special Programming Celebrating JJ's Victory Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Diskussion um Song Contest 2026 in Graz" [Discussion about the Song Contest 2026 in Graz]. Steiermark.ORF.at (in German). ORF. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  8. ^ ""Perfekte Location": Klaus Leutgeb will ESC 2026 an den Schwarzlsee holen" ["Perfect location": Klaus Leutgeb wants to bring ESC 2026 to Schwarzlsee] (in German). Kleine Zeitung. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Wels im Ringen um ESC-Austragungsort" [Wels in the fight for ESC venue]. Ooe.ORF.at (in German). ORF. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  10. ^ Granger, Anthony. "Eurovision 2026: Innsbruck Intends to Bid to Host Eurovision". Eurovoix. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Oberwart will ESC-Austragungsort werden" [Oberwart wants to become ESC venue]. Burgenland.ORF.at (in German). ORF. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  12. ^ "St. Pölten liebäugelt mit Song Contest 2026" (in German). ORF. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  13. ^ Granger, Anthony (26 May 2025). "Eurovision 2026: Ebreichsdorf's 'Comer City' Presents Proposal to Host Eurovision". Eurovoix.com. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  14. ^ "ESC 2026: Kärnten winkt für Austragung ab" [ESC 2026: Carinthia declines to host the event]. Kaernten.ORF.at (in German). ORF. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  15. ^ Granger, Anthony (18 May 2025). "🇦🇹 Eurovision 2026: Wels & Oberwart Want to Host, Klagenfurt & Salzburg Say No". Eurovoix. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  16. ^ "'Werden es nicht stemmen können': Bürgermeister Bernhard Auinger winkt für Stadt Salzburg als Song-Contest-Austragungsort ab" ["We won't be able to manage it": Mayor Bernhard Auinger rejects the city of Salzburg as a venue for the Song Contest]. Salzburg24 (in German). Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  17. ^ SALZBURG24. "Song Contest 2026 in Salzburg noch nicht endgültig vom Tisch". SALZBURG24 (in German). Retrieved 19 May 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Heap, Steven (18 May 2025). "🇦🇹 Austria: ORF Confirms Internal Selection for Eurovision 2026". Eurovoix. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  19. ^ Christensen, Andreas Erecius (23 May 2025). "Frederikshavn jubler over Melodi Grand Prix: 'Jeg kan næsten ikke være i min egen krop'" [Frederikshavn celebrates the Eurovision Song Contest: 'I can hardly be in my own body'] (in Danish). DR. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  20. ^ "UMK järjestetään Tampereella myös ensi vuonna". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Yle. 15 May 2025. Archived from the original on 15 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  21. ^ Charalambopoulos, Sotiris (19 May 2025). "Eurovision 2026: Η πρώτη απόφαση της ΕΡΤ για τη συμμετοχή της Ελλάδας" [Eurovision 2026: ERT's first decision on Greece's participation]. iEidiseis (in Greek). Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Μαρία Κοζάκου: «Θα έχουμε εθνικό τελικό του χρόνου» – Τι απαντά στις αρνητικές κριτικές για την Klavdia" [Maria Kozakou: "We will have a national final next year" – What she says to the negative opinions about Klavdia]. Ethnos (in Greek). 23 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  23. ^ "Inschrijving Eurovisie Songfestival 2026 geopend" [Registration for Eurovision Song Contest 2026 opened] (in Dutch). AVROTROS. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  24. ^ "AVROTROS kiest voor 2026 weer intern lied songfestival" [AVROTROS chooses internal for the Eurovision again for 2026]. Songfestivalweblog.nl (in Dutch). 15 March 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Душка Вучинић: Србија се не повлачи са „Песме Евровизије"" [Duška Vučinić: Serbia is not withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest] (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)). RTS. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  26. ^ Jovanović, Vladimir (26 May 2025). "Srbija ostaje na Pesmi Evrovizije, ali tenzije u EBU rastu! Slovenija i druge zemlje traže odgovore" [Serbia remains at the Eurovision Song Contest, but tensions in the EBU are growing! Slovenia and other countries are looking for answers]. OGAE Serbia (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  27. ^ "BBC Studios retains the contract to produce UK coverage of Eurovision until 2028". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 9 August 2024. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2024. BBC Studios will also work alongside the BBC in the selection of the UK act, and oversee their performance.
  28. ^ Adell, Daniel (4 February 2025). "El ganador de Eufòria podría representar a Andorra en Eurovisión 2026" [The winner of Eufòria could represent Andorra at the Eurovision 2026]. Eurovision-Spain.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  29. ^ "TV3 pretende que el ganador del 'OT catalán' represente a Andorra en Eurovisión 2026" [TV3 wants the winner of the 'Catalan OT' to represent Andorra at Eurovision 2026]. The Objective [es; ca] (in Spanish). 4 February 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  30. ^ "Cataluña podría elegir el representante de Andorra en Eurovisión" [Catalonia could choose Andorra's Eurovision representative]. Europa FM (in Spanish). 5 February 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Els espectadors de TVC i d'Andorra TV triaran el representant del país pirinenc a Eurovisió" [Viewers of TVC and Andorra TV will choose the representative of the Pyrenean country in Eurovision]. TV3CAT (in Catalan). Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 24 November 2003. Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Més info – 12 punt" [More info – 12 points]. TV3CAT (in Catalan). Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  33. ^ Heap, Steven. "Andorra: RTVA Will Not Participate in Eurovision 2026". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  34. ^ Schillewaert, Nils (19 May 2025). "VRT stelt toekomstige deelname Songfestival in vraag als er geen "ernstige" antwoorden komen van de EBU" [VRT questions future Song Contest participation if no “serious” answers come from EBU]. VRT NWS (in West Flemish). VRT. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  35. ^ "Le système de vote de l'Eurovision fait débat en Belgique : la VRT remet en question sa participation, Vooruit demande une enquête" [Eurovision voting system sparks debate in Belgium: VRT questions its participation, Vooruit calls for an investigation]. RTBF (in French). 19 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  36. ^ "BiH već devet godina nije na Eurosongu: Pomičemo li se s mrtve tačke" [Bosnia and Herzegovina has not participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for nine years: Are we moving from a dead end]. Klix.ba (in Bosnian). 13 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  37. ^ "SWR übernimmt 2026 Federführung für Eurovision Song Contest" [SWR to take over the lead for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026] (in German). 27 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  38. ^ "Dons Eirovīzijas dziesmas popularizēšanai ārvalstīs no LaIPA saņem 5000 eiro" [Dons receives €5000 from LaIPA to promote his Eurovision song abroad]. Public Broadcasting of Latvia (in Latvian). 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  39. ^ "RTL Lëtzebuerg Insta Stories teasing Luxembourg Song Contest 2026; originally published on January 26, 2025". Imgur. RTL Lëtzebuerg. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  40. ^ "Luxemburgo: RTL ya se encuentra en conversaciones para su participación en Eurovisión 2026" [Luxembourg: RTL already in talks for participation in Eurovision 2026]. Eurofestivales (in Spanish). 19 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  41. ^ De-re, Julien (20 May 2025). "Luxembourg: Discussion Ongoing With Government Regarding Eurovision 2026 Participation". Eurovoix. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  42. ^ Alibabić, Danijel [@danijel_alibabic] (19 May 2025). "Svim srcem uz Crnu Goru i kad gubi i kad osvaja. Nina je ostavila srce na terenu, delegacija dala sve od sebe da na dostojanstven način branimo boje naše države. [...] Sve donosioce odluka u državnim institucijama bih pozvao da se sledeće godine uključe mnogo više, a posebno Ministarstvu turizma koje ovaj festival može da iskoristi kao promociju države i najavu sezone!" [With all my heart, I support Montenegro both when it loses and when it wins. Nina left her heart on the field, the delegation did its best to defend the colors of our country in a dignified manner. [...] I would urge all decision-makers in state institutions to get much more involved next year, especially the Ministry of Tourism, which can use this festival as a promotion for the state and an announcement of the season!] (in Montenegrin). Basel. Retrieved 20 May 2025 – via Instagram.
  43. ^ Vučinić, Vladana (19 May 2025). ""Dobrodošli u stvarnost – i na Eurosong"". Radio and Television of Montenegro (in Montenegrin). Welcome to reality – and to the Eurovision Song Contest. Retrieved 19 May 2025. Vidimo se naredne godine. [See you next year.]
  44. ^ Viki, Klincharova (7 November 2024). "И да сме последни, не треба да се откажеме од Евровизија, смета Програмскиот совет на МРТ" [Even if we are last, we should not give up on Eurovision, believes the MRT Programming Council]. Fokus (in Macedonian). Retrieved 20 May 2025. Сепак, враќањето на Македонија на Евровизија 2025 најверојатно нема да се случи, но ќе се направеле напори да се вратиме на манифестацијата во 2026 година. [However, Macedonia's return to Eurovision 2025 will likely not happen, but efforts will be made to return to the event in 2026.]
  45. ^ "Евросонг 2025 – утре финале, кои се фаворити?" [Eurovision 2025 – final tomorrow, who are the favorites?]. MRT Play (in Macedonian). Macedonian Radio Television. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  46. ^ Galunič, Mario (9 March 2024). "Program dela in vizija razvoja uredniško producentske enote – Razvedrilni program v produkcijski enoti Televizija Slovenija" [Work program and development vision of the editorial production unit – Entertainment program in the production unit of Televizija Slovenija] (PDF) (in Slovenian). RTVSLO. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  47. ^ Davies, Meg (28 April 2024). "Slovenia: Return to EMA Planned For 2025". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  48. ^ "Če EBU ne bo sprejel konkretnih korakov, bo TV Slovenija razmislila o sodelovanju na Evroviziji" [If the EBU does not take concrete steps, TV Slovenia will reconsider its participation in Eurovision] (in Slovenian). RTVSLO. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eurovision_Song_Contest_2026&oldid=1292648557"