Eurovision Song Contest, Rex Comeback, Olympics and Football World Cup: The ORF Highlights 2026

The ORF faces financial challenges, which should not be reflected in the program, emphasized ORF General Director Roland Weißmann. Additionally, the costly hosting of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 is planned. This is to be made possible by reallocating budgets from "Dancing Stars" and "Die Große Chance der Blasmusik," according to Groiss-Horowitz.

Eurovision Song Contest, Sports Highlights, and Fiction on ORF

To determine Austria's representative for the ESC, ORF is organizing the prime-time show "Vienna Calling - Who Sings for Austria?" (February 20) for the first time since 2016. The ESC hopeful selected by the audience and jury is expected to perform convincingly, Weißmann expressed optimistically. "If they come in second, we'll be happy too," the ORF chief remarked with a wink. Besides the ESC, other major events like the Winter Olympics and the Men's Football World Cup will claim a lot of airtime next year. The latter will be broadcast jointly by ORF and ServusTV, as well as Formula 1.

ORF continues to focus on Austrian productions in the fiction sector. Funds from expiring US series contracts are being reallocated for this purpose. The Austrian film industry values the partnership with ORF. Next year, well-known series will return: "Kommissar Rex" investigates in Vienna, Robert Palfrader and Nicholas Ofczarek appear in "Braunschlag," and "MA2412" will be continued. New seasons are planned for series like "Biester" and "Die Fälle der Gerti B." The "Tatort" investigator duo Bibi and Moritz will bid farewell, with successors yet to be determined.

Care as Dramedy and Heimatfilm for a Young Generation

According to Groiss-Horowitz, in addition to "Biester" or "School of Champions," the series "Pflegeleicht" aims to specifically target younger audiences in the future. This dramedy puts young caregivers in the spotlight. On social media, four new "young-audience formats," such as "NOWUKNOW," which aims to prepare complex scientific topics with animations suitable for TikTok, or "checkst du," a new format about (youth) language, are intended to attract online-savvy individuals to the public service media company.

Groiss-Horowitz plans to focus on "escapist content" and to redesign the "homeland film" for the younger generation. In "Herzklang - Zurück zu mir," for example, pop singer Melissa Naschenweng will be seen in her first leading role. In the dating sector, "Willst du mit mir gehen?" will soon start, while "Liebesg'schichten und Heiratssachen" celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, including a Christmas special. Barbara Karlich returns with "Barbara Karlich unterwegs," where she "travels the country and talks to people about important topics," explained Groiss-Horowitz about the concept. Dialogues are also at the center of other formats, such as "Was braucht Österreich?" or "Ein Ort am Wort".

"Universum" Show and "Aktenzeichen XY" Return on ORF

"Universum" returns at the end of 2025 as a prime-time show for the first time in almost forty years. Mirjam Weichselbraun hosts a quiz on topics from the nature films and the "Universum History" series. After more than 20 years, the first true-crime format on German-speaking television, "Aktenzeichen XY... ungelöst," will be reintroduced with two new editions. Hollywood lovers can look forward to "Oppenheimer" and "Dune 2," while fans of Stipsits anticipate the "Uhudler Conspiracy" and the "Eierkratz Plot." In the area of religion and ethics, ORF is expanding its "kreuz und quer" brand. Three new programs suitable for streaming are in planning. The barrier-free offering will be expanded from autumn 2025 with live subtitles on "Bundesland heute" and ORF Sport+.

More "Good News" on Ö3

In the radio sector, ORF recently had to accept the departure of Robert Kratky. ORF Radio Director Ingrid Thurnher praised his "incredibly valuable work" and expressed the expectation that the new generation will continue this "just as well." In the future, alongside Gabi Hiller and Philipp Hansa, Anna Kratki and Philipp Bergsmann will also accompany Ö3 listeners in the morning. From now on, there will be an increased focus on "Good News."

(Red)

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