ESC 2026 in Vienna: Voices and Reactions
Below are the first statements and reactions to the decision announced on Wednesday that Vienna will be the host city for the Song Contest 2026:
Johannes Pietsch, also known as JJ, ESC Winner 2025:
"I am so thrilled that the ESC will take place 'at home' in Vienna! The third Eurovision Song Contest in Austria, once again in Vienna. I am happy and proud and already looking forward to the coming year!" said the Viennese singer to the APA.
Martin Green, ESC Director:
"The EBU is very pleased that Vienna has been selected as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Vienna's reputation as one of the most musical cities in the world and its location in the heart of Europe make it the perfect host city for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. The Wiener Stadthalle was already a great venue for the 60th competition in 2015, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming delegations, artists, and fans there next May when the world's largest live music event celebrates 70 glorious years of the motto 'United by Music'. Together with the host broadcaster ORF and the city of Vienna, we will create a spectacular music festival that will resonate worldwide."
Michael Krön, ORF ESC Executive Producer:
"Behind us lies a strenuous and intensive process with the selection of the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest, which gave us the opportunity to choose between two strong concepts. Together with the city of Vienna, we will work with full force to host a Song Contest that will captivate all of Europe and include Innsbruck as well as all of Austria."
Michael Ludwig, Mayor of Vienna (SPÖ):
"I was called at 07:37 by ORF Director General Weißmann, and he informed me of this (the award for Vienna, note). I was very pleased about it. (...) Of course, there are also additional challenges. The security concept, which we will develop together with the organizers, is more demanding than it was in 2015. (...) We assume that this is a good investment we are making here to also strengthen the economic location." - Mayor Ludwig in an APA interview on Wednesday
Bettina Emmerling, Deputy Mayor of Vienna (NEOS):
"We are looking forward to our city becoming the meeting point of music, cultures, and joie de vivre in May 2026. Together, we will showcase an open-minded Vienna and host the world's largest music show with passion, professionalism, and enthusiasm."
Elisabeth Zehetner, State Secretary for Tourism (ÖVP):
"In 2015, Vienna impressively demonstrated that the ESC is both a cultural highlight and an economic engine, and in 2026 we will build on that. Vienna combines cultural diversity, a strong tourism economy, and excellent infrastructure. This provides the conditions to successfully host the ESC and make Austria visible internationally. The Eurovision Song Contest unites people, music, and markets. It is an investment multiplier with international reach. Vienna already showed in 2015 that the Eurovision Song Contest is an economic engine. In 2026, we will repeat this success model - with positive effects for tourism, jobs, and the entire economic location of Austria."
Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger, Managing Director of the Austrian National Tourist Office:
"My heartfelt congratulations go to Vienna! The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in the world capital of music is a great opportunity to showcase Austria in all its diversity - open-minded, creative, and with a unique zest for life. This international event will inspire and connect people from all over the world."
Walter Ruck, President of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce:
"The decision to host the Song Contest 2026 together with Vienna is the right one. ORF and the City of Vienna will jointly host an event of superlatives. Vienna is the number one Song Contest city. We proved that in 2015, and in 2026 we will raise the bar even higher. Together with the city's event organizers, restaurateurs, and hoteliers, this will become the Super-ESC. (...) I am sure that the ESC 2026 can and will have a long-term impact on Vienna. With young, enthusiastic people in the city, there will be a boom here that will make us even more internationally known as an event city."
Norbert Kettner, Managing Director of Vienna Tourism:
"With Vienna and the Eurovision Song Contest, what belongs together comes together: the open-minded capital of music and the world's largest music show. Vienna and Europe are 'United by Music' again in 2026. We look forward to the proven partnership with ORF and EBU and are working with great energy to build on the great success of 2015 in the coming year. Vienna offers ideal conditions for this: over 80,000 hotel beds, excellent connections by plane and train, and a proven event infrastructure. This gives ORF the freedom to focus entirely on what matters - an unforgettable show."
Matthäus Zelenka, Managing Director of Wiener Stadthalle:
"The values of the Eurovision Song Contest fit perfectly with our venue - openness, diversity, community, and joy in music. In 2026, all of Europe will be looking at us, and we are very much looking forward to opening this stage for a festival of encounters and good times."
Kurt Gollowitzer, Managing Director of Wien Holding:
"We are very pleased that in 2026 we will be able to host the Song Contest for the second time in a Wien Holding company. The Wiener Stadthalle is the ideal location for this. We can do Song Contest, as we impressively demonstrated in 2015. Now it's time to get to work."
Karl Mahrer, City Councilor and Cultural Spokesperson of the Vienna ÖVP:
"The Song Contest is a major cultural event that puts Vienna back at the center of Europe. It is a celebration of creativity and encounter, which lets our city shine in the international spotlight."
Dominik Nepp, Party Chairman of the Vienna FPÖ:
"The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 may be a prestige event for Vienna, but in times when the city of Vienna is on the brink of financial collapse due to the catastrophic budget policy of the Ludwig-SPÖ, it is simply irresponsible to throw away millions of taxpayers' money on 'bread and circuses.' (...) The reported 22.6 million euros are probably just the tip of the iceberg. The Viennese have a right to know how much this event really costs and which expenses will ultimately fall on the taxpayer. We call on Ludwig to disclose the total costs including all ancillary items - even before a single euro is spent."
Judith Pühringer, Party Chairwoman of the Vienna Greens:
"Our city stands for diversity, cosmopolitanism, and tolerance - that Vienna will host the ESC 2026 next year fits perfectly! I am very pleased with this decision and am sure that Vienna will once again provide a more than worthy stage for the Song Contest."
Alexander Ipp, Vice President of the Austrian Hotel Association and Vienna State Chairman:
"This will be a huge celebration for the people of Vienna, for artists from all over Europe, and for many thousands of fans from around the world!"
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.