Innsbruck vs. Vienna: Austria’s Eurovision 2026 Host City Showdown Will Be Settled at… Breakfast?!
Forget the glitter cannon press conferences and the dramatic late-night reveals—Austria’s playing the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest host city announcement like a low-key plot twist in a cosy morning rom-com.
According to Kurier, ORF will drop the big reveal between 7 and 8 AM on Wednesday, 20 August, during the Ö3-Wecker breakfast show. Yes, you might still be in pyjamas when you find out if Eurovision 2026 will sparkle in Vienna or hit the high notes in . The cities themselves? They’ll get a heads-up a mere 30 minutes before the public. No pressure, mayors.
Who’s stirring the pot?
One of the voices waking up Austria that morning will be Philipp Hansa—known to Eurovision fans as that guy who’s read out Austria’s points and now whispered about as a potential ESC 2026 host. Imagine: he could be telling us both where we’re going and who’s hosting in the same breath.
The contenders
It’s a straight shootout between two very different vibes:
- Vienna – Motto: “Europe, shall we dance”. Classy, waltzy, dripping in imperial grandeur.
- Innsbruck – Motto: “Together on Top”. Alpine charm, snow-kissed views, and a wink to Tyrol’s top of the world bragging rights.
Both cities submitted their bids in early July—Vienna on the 3rd, Innsbruck on the 4th.
Dates to save (maybe)
The 2026 contest will either run 12–14–16 May or 19–21–23 May. We’ll know for sure on August 20th… probably before we’ve even finished our coffee.
Source: Kurier
