Vienna or Innsbruck? The ORF will announce on Wednesday which of the two cities will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The decision on whether Austria's federal capital or Tyrol's state capital will host the event is expected to be announced in the morning hours - simultaneously on the Ö3-Wecker, in the TV breakfast show "Good Morning Austria" (ORF 2), and via the YouTube channel of the European Broadcast Union (EBU).

Vienna and Innsbruck in the Duel

Before the public learns the ESC news, phone calls will be made between Küniglberg and the town halls of the two candidate cities. After all, the mayors of Vienna and Innsbruck, Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) and Johannes Anzengruber (JA - Now Innsbruck), are to be informed first about whether their city has been selected. They will also be the ones to sit on the podium in the afternoon when further details about the host city's plans are announced via a press conference. According to the ORF announcement on Tuesday afternoon, this will take place at 4 PM - depending on the decision, either in the Vienna or Innsbruck town hall. Also announced for the press conference are ORF Director General Roland Weißmann, ORF Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, ESC Director Martin Green, and Michael Krön, ORF Executive Producer for the ESC.

Since neither Graz nor the Upper Austrian joint project Linz/Wels nor the Burgenland regional champion Oberwart entered the bidding ring despite initial announcements, only the host city duel between Vienna and Innsbruck remained. The federal capital - already a successful host city of the ESC 2015 after Conchita's triumph - entered the race with the claim "Europe, shall we dance?", while the Tyrolean state capital promoted itself with the motto "Together on Top" and promised urban flair against an alpine backdrop.

ESC after JJ's Victory in Austria

According to ORF, it was considered an open race until the end. On Wednesday, the public broadcaster, which is allowed to handle the mega event with 170 million viewers thanks to this year's victory by JJ with "Wasted Love", will now - at least in the city competition - crown a final winner.

(APA/Red)

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