Ludwig sees Eurovision Song Contest 2026 as a good investment for Vienna's economic location

Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) is optimistic that the award will benefit Vienna. The experiences from the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 are to be utilized, particularly regarding the supporting program. The Rathausplatz, where the "Eurovision Village" was set up a decade ago, will once again play a significant role.

Mayor Ludwig Had "A Very Good Feeling From The Start"

APA: Mr. Mayor, when did you learn about the decision? And were you surprised, or did you assume that Vienna would receive the award again?

Michael Ludwig: Of course, it wasn't clear until the end. I was called at 07:37 by ORF Director General Weißmann, and he informed me. I was very pleased about it. I had a very good feeling from the start. We really made a great effort to submit a good concept. However, I heard from the Director General that the concept of the city of Innsbruck was also very attractive. I assume that we were able to score not only with our many years of experience in major events but also with the infrastructure and the transport connections to the world - and with what we can offer in terms of tourist or gastronomic facilities.

Vienna Wants To Use Experiences From 2015 For Eurovision Song Contest 2026

APA: The major events also included the Song Contest 2015. Will you be able to draw on experiences here, or are the conditions different now?

Ludwig: We have, of course, analyzed very precisely what consequences we can derive from the Song Contest 2015. There are several, especially those points that led to very high satisfaction, particularly among international guests. We will continue and expand that. I am thinking of the fact that we not only held the actual Eurovision Song Contest in the Wiener Stadthalle but also numerous side events that contributed to many getting to know the city even better and being able to use their leisure time differently.

We will continue and expand that. For example, we have increased the bed capacity by a quarter. We have additional art and cultural facilities, as well as many leisure opportunities that have been newly created. We want to offer this more intensively to guests from abroad or from the federal states. And conversely, there are, of course, additional challenges. The security concept, which we will develop together with the organizers, is more demanding than it was in 2015. So, in that respect, we will prepare ourselves strongly for the international conditions.

Rathausplatz Will Be Used Again for ESC 2026

APA: In 2015, Rathausplatz was also a focal point, where the Eurovision Village was located. Will the square play an important role again?

Ludwig: Yes, absolutely. It proved to be very successful to hold the Eurovision Song Contest Village at Rathausplatz. We will offer that again, but we will also create additional opportunities for people to engage with the Song Contest throughout the city. My goal is to strengthen the economic location - that is, Vienna, but also Austria as a whole.

But on the other hand, I want to use the Song Contest to provide many free cultural offerings, so that guests, as well as the Viennese population, can experience it as a true festival of the city. Therefore, we will place a special emphasis on making culture accessible to everyone.

Song Contest in Vienna "A Good Investment for the Economic Location"

APA: The city is also financially involved, while a savings package is being negotiated at the town hall. Does this mean cuts have to be made elsewhere?

Ludwig: We have allocated 22.6 million euros as the city of Vienna, particularly for the financing of the venue and other necessities that are required here. This is more than in 2015, when Vienna's share was 17 million euros. At that time, we calculated that there was a value creation of 28 million euros. We assume that this is a good investment we are making here to also strengthen the economic location.

Additionally, one must also consider that the advertising effect is very high. In 2015, we calculated that it was about 100 million euros. This will be more next year. This means that it will also provide a strong boost for tourism and for the economic location of Vienna and Austria in the medium term.

(The interview was conducted by Gerald Mackinger/APA)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.