It’s Eurovision Time!
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is officially underway, with the iconic music competition spectacularly celebrating its 70th anniversary in Vienna. Following Austria’s victory in 2025 thanks to JJ’s winning song Wasted Love, the Eurovision circus has returned to one of Europe’s most musical cities for what promises to be one of the biggest editions in the competition’s history.
– View our 2026 Eurovision Song Contest markets
Where Is Eurovision 2026 Being Held?
The 2026 contest is being staged at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena and a venue already familiar to Eurovision fans after previously hosting the competition in 2015.
Vienna was selected ahead of several rival Austrian cities during a competitive bidding process organised by Austrian broadcaster ORF and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Officials highlighted the city’s infrastructure, hotel capacity and previous Eurovision experience as key reasons behind the decision.
This marks the third time Vienna has hosted Eurovision, having previously welcomed the contest in 1967 and 2015.
Eurovision 2026 Dates
The live shows for Eurovision 2026 take place across one week in May:
- First Semi-Final: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
- Second Semi-Final: Thursday, May 14, 2026
- Grand Final: Saturday, May 16, 2026
All live broadcasts begin at 9pm local time in Austria (8pm in Ireland and the UK).
Who Are The Eurovision 2026 Hosts?
This year’s contest is being presented by Austrian television personality Victoria Swarovski and actor Michael Ostrowski.
The duo fronts the live arena broadcasts from Vienna, while additional backstage and Green Room coverage is being provided throughout Eurovision week.
How Many Countries Are Competing?
A total of 35 countries are participating in Eurovision 2026, with nations battling it out across two semi-finals for a place in Saturday night’s Grand Final.
As always, the “Big Five” nations, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, automatically qualify for the final alongside host nation Austria.
Eurovision Village & Fan Events
Fans travelling to Vienna can visit the official Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz from May 10–17. The free fan zone includes live performances, screenings, food stalls, and entertainment throughout Eurovision week.
The city has also launched dedicated Eurovision-themed activities, including walking tours, fan experiences, and an official host city app for visitors.
Stage & Production Details
Production crews have transformed the Wiener Stadthalle into one of the largest Eurovision stages ever built. Reports suggest the stage structure weighs over 200 tonnes and includes thousands of lighting fixtures and LED panels.
Roughly 95,000 tickets across nine shows were reportedly sold to fans from over 70 countries, underlining Eurovision’s massive global appeal.
Who Are The Favourites To Win Eurovision 2026?
Odds compilers and Eurovision fan communities have identified entries from Finland, Greece, and Denmark among the leading contenders heading into the live shows. However, momentum has also been building behind several surprise packages following the first arena rehearsals in Vienna.
According to the Eurovision Audience Poll conducted by ESCXTRA alongside several major Eurovision fan outlets, Moldova emerged as the standout favourite among fans attending the Semi-Final 1 preview show. Poll results suggested Moldova received over 28% of the audience vote, comfortably ahead of Finland and Greece.
The poll, which surveys fans leaving the Wiener Stadthalle after rehearsals, has developed a strong reputation in recent years for identifying televote momentum and surprise contenders before the live broadcasts.
As always with Eurovision, though, rehearsals and fan polls only tell part of the story. Live vocals, staging and the all-important televote can completely reshape the leaderboard once the semi-finals and Grand Final begin.
Eurovision 2026 Betting Markets
The Eurovision Song Contest has become one of the biggest non-sport betting events of the year, attracting millions in wagers across Europe and beyond. Constant shifts in rehearsals, staging reveals, fan reactions, and jury predictions create volatile betting markets throughout Eurovision week, while the combination of public televoting and jury scores makes the contest notoriously unpredictable for punters and bookmakers alike.
Beyond simply betting on the outright winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, there are plenty of other ways to get involved in the action. For the 2026 edition, markets also include predicting a Top 5 or Top 10 finish, the Jury Vote winner and the Televote winner, along with a range of betting options on both semi-finals as the field is whittled down to the Grand Final.
How To Watch Eurovision 2026
Viewers in the UK can watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Graham Norton once again returns for BBC commentary during the Grand Final.
Fans worldwide can also stream performances and Eurovision content via the official Eurovision platforms.
For official Eurovision information, tickets, and updates, visit the Eurovision Song Contest official website.
