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No detailed information was disclosed about the total budget for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. It was only mentioned that it will be lower than this year’s event in Basel, according to ORF Director General Roland Weißmann on Wednesday. Nevertheless, he emphasized: “We are economical, but spectacular. That is the motto we have set ourselves.”
Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna will be cheaper than ESC 2025 in Basel
Currently, the budgeting phase for 2026 is underway. A “maximum budget” has been set for the ESC, emphasized the broadcaster’s director, who did not want to give a specific figure at the press conference, which was also attended by Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) and ESC Director Martin Green (EBU), among others. The ORF director pointed out that other major events such as the World Cup and the Winter Olympics are also coming up next year. In Switzerland, the major event cost the equivalent of around 64 million euros. “We have to tighten our belts a little; the budget will in any case be lower than that of Basel,” Weißmann said. What is certain is that the maximum financial framework for the city of Vienna has been set at 22.6 million euros. By way of comparison, the city of Basel spent €37.3 million on the mega-event this year.
Weißmann and Ludwig also signed the “Host City Agreement” in the afternoon. As far as the decision in favor of the federal capital is concerned, Vienna was “a tad” better, Weißmann revealed when asked what had tipped the scales in favor of the federal capital. He noted, however, that financial support was only one of several criteria in the application process. According to the ORF boss, the fact that the Stadthalle, the largest event location in the country, was available was also an important factor. “One advantage here is that the green room, where the artists stay, is directly connected. In Innsbruck, it was a little further away.” The director general also pointed out that, unlike in Vienna, additional infrastructure would have had to be built in Innsbruck with financial support from ORF to provide logistical support.
Work on stage design and show schedule for Eurovision Song Contest 2026 to begin in September
Exactly what will happen inside the large hall is now being worked out. The stage design and show schedule will be addressed starting in September, according to ORF program director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz and ORF ESC executive producer Michael Krön. “We will certainly not be doing the same thing as in 2015,” said Groiss-Horowitz, but she promised a “charming, professional, Austrian show” that she hopes will elicit a “Wow, that was awesome” response from the public.
Eurovision Song Contest 2026: City Hall (square) next to the Stadthalle as the central venue
Other important venues, however, have already been decided: In addition to the Stadthalle venue, the town hall will serve as the central point of contact, as was announced. According to Mayor Ludwig, the “Eurovision Village” will be set up on Rathausplatz, as it was in 2015. In 2015, concerts by participating artists took place there, among other things. There were also live broadcasts of the semi-finals and the final.
The opening ceremony, among other events, will take place in the town hall itself. Unlike in 2015, the “Euro Club” will also be set up in the town hall. Ten years ago, the contact point for fan clubs, delegations, and the media was located in the Ottakringer Brewery. Further details on the supporting program and the offerings surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be finalized in the coming weeks and months. However, Ludwig confirmed that there will also be free offerings for ESC fans in the supporting program.
ESC Director Green praised Vienna as perhaps the greatest music city in the world. He emphasized that the Song Contest is not just a Saturday night event, but consists of many shows. In any case, the added value is high, he assured. This has also been demonstrated recently in the other host cities. “The whole world will be watching Vienna,” Green predicted.
Vienna to host Eurovision Song Contest for the third time
Vienna will be the venue for the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, which ORF will host in 2026 following JJ’s triumph at this year’s music competition in Basel. The federal capital prevailed over the Tyrolean capital Innsbruck, as the broadcaster announced on Wednesday morning. This will be Vienna’s third time as the ESC host city, following 1967 and 2015. The final will take place on May 16, 2026, at the Stadthalle.
- source: APA/picture: orf.at
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