Which venue will host Eurovision 2026?

Venue for Eurovision 2015

Now that Vienna has officially been revealed as Austria’s Eurovision 2026, we can turn our attention to looking at contest’s venue: the infamous Wiener Stadthalle.

Let’s find out what makes this venue the perfect choice for Eurovision’s 70th edition!

Wiener Stadthalle 101

Here's everything you need to know about the home of Eurovision 2026:

History: Wiener Stadthalle is Vienna’s largest indoor arena, originally constructed between 1953-1958, with many extensions and facelifts over the years. It’s a multi-purpose venue with several halls, but Hall D is the biggest of the indoor arenas where the Eurovision magic will happen.

Capacity: Wiener Stadthalle can comfortably accommodate up to 16,083 people, which represents close to a 30% increase in available seating compared to 2024’s St Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland. Though with Eurovision’s massive stage, lighting rigs, and cameras, it is expected crowd numbers will be something closer to seating for 10,500 fans alongside additional standing room tickets.

Events: The venue hosts over 350 events each year, for everything from concerts to sports events. This gives the EBU confidence that Eurovision can be presented with minimal fuss in this tried-and-tested arena.

Popular events that call Wiener Stadthalle home include the Erste Bank Open tennis tournament, Holiday on Ice, and a variety of global sporting championships. Plus this year alone has seen concerts from artists including Lenny Kravitz, Simply Red, Bryan Adams, Lionel Richie and Anastacia.

Facilities: A Eurovision host venue comes with many requirements, and Wiener Stadthalle certainly fits the bill. It’s got the necessary space for backstage dressing rooms, 2 VIP rooms, media zones, technical infrastructure, and rigging options needed for a production of this scale. Basically, everything Eurovision demands is already there.

Wait, haven’t I seen Wiener Stadthalle before?

Yes, you’re right! This is not the first time Wiener Stadthalle has been home to Eurovision, famously housing the 60^th edition when Austria last hosted in 2015.

Aussie fans will remember this fondly as the year Australia was first invited to perform as a competing nation on the Eurovision main stage, with Guy Sebastian earning an impressive 5^th place on our debut with Tonight Again.

Why was Wiener Stadthalle Chosen?

Vienna wasn’t the only Austrian city in the running. Innsbruck threw its hat in the ring too, but here’s why Wiener Stadthalle stood out:

• Proven Track Record: Hosting huge events like Eurovision before means Wiener Stadthalle knows the drill - understanding things like crowd flow, camera angles, and media zones make it a well-oiled machine.

• Size & Flexibility: As Austria’s largest indoor arena, the multi-hall layout means Eurovision can take over Hall D for the live shows while using other halls for rehearsals, press, and green room prep.

• City Infrastructure: Hotels, transport, and amenities are all top-notch in Vienna, with close to 80,000 hotel beds available. Delegations, media, and fans alike will find getting around a breeze.

• Cost & Readiness: Unlike building a brand-new venue, Wiener Stadthalle already ticks all the boxes, meaning fewer headaches for organisers.

• Environmental Friendliness: In December 2022, a photovoltaic system was installed on the roof of Hall D to generate green electricity. The system was later extended to Hall F in September 2024, making Eurovision 2026 one of the most sustainable events from a climate perspective.

So that’s everything you need to know about the Austrian 2026 Eurovision venue! Will you be attending? Let us know in the comments.

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