Austria Goes Local for Eurovision 2026: A Homegrown Hit in the Making?

Brace yourselves, Austrians – you’re about to get a say. For the first time since 2016, the ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation) is handing the reins back to the public in a good old-fashioned national selection show. Yes, Austria is going full Wiener Melange with a TV special to pick their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 – which, in case you forgot, will be held on home soil.

Scheduled for late February (because nothing says love like Eurovision fever just after Valentine’s Day), this newly minted selection extravaganza will pit around ten musical hopefuls against each other. And in true Eurovision spirit, a professional jury will clash politely with the public vote to decide who’ll carry the nation’s hopes, glitter, and falsetto pride into the Grand Final.

The hunt is officially on. ORF is now accepting applications from solo artists, duos and bands who think they have the je ne sais quoi (or perhaps the bitte sehr) to steal the show. All applications are to be submitted via email – modernity meets music.

ORF’s programme director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz revealed the juicy bits on the Ö3-Wecker: a handful of acts will be preselected internally, but it’s the grand showdown on TV where it all comes to a dramatic crescendo.

And if history tells us anything – take Zoë’s 2016 Loin d’ici, for example – Austria has the quirky charm and musical chops to rise above the rest. Just don’t forget your feathers, your LED floor plan, and your most earnest wind machine moment.

So, who will it be this time? The next global superstar or a delightful local surprise? One thing’s for sure – the road to Eurovision 2026 is already lined with fanfare, expectations, and just the right amount of drama. Start warming up those vocal cords, Austria. The world is listening.

Source: ORF