Vienna Calling: EBU and ORF Begin Countdown to Eurovision Song Contest 2026
Austria is officially on the clock. Following their victory in Basel, the nation now shoulders the grand responsibility of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. On 5 June 2025, Vienna played host to the first high-level meeting between the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Austrian national broadcaster, ORF — the kind of get-together where the words “stakeholder alignment” are spoken with a straight face.
Led by ESC Director Martin Green, Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl, and Commercial Director Jurian van der Meer, the EBU delegation met with ORF’s top brass: Director General Roland Weißmann, Programme Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, Finance Director Eva Schindlauer, Technical Director Harald Kräuter, and Radio Director Ingrid Thurnher. The agenda? Nothing less than the planning and orchestration of the world’s biggest televised entertainment event.
A Global Spectacle in the Making
Let’s not forget: the Eurovision Song Contest is no village fête. It’s a logistical juggernaut watched by over 160 million people worldwide. And while the glitter, wind machines and modulated key changes may steal the show, they don’t organise themselves.
«We accepted the honour — and the challenge — of hosting Eurovision the moment we triumphed in Basel,» said ORF’s Roland Weißmann. «Planning started the next morning, and we are committed to delivering a show that celebrates Austria while thrilling audiences across the globe.»
It’s not all schnitzel and selfies, however. From venue selection and broadcast technology to security protocols and, of course, the all-important green room feng shui — the road to ESC 2026 is paved with spreadsheets and strategic meetings.
The EBU Touch
Martin Green, whose job title may as well be “Head of Making Miracles Happen on Live Television,” underscored the collaborative nature of the process. “The EBU’s role is to guide and support the host broadcaster through every twist and turn,” he said. “There are essential requirements to meet, naturally — but also a great deal of creative freedom. That’s what makes each Eurovision unique.”
Österdahl, who has by now mastered the art of looking calm while managing a continent-wide chaos machine, added: “Shared knowledge, close collaboration and early coordination are key. We’ve been in touch with ORF since the moment Austria won, and this initial meeting lays the groundwork for everything to come.”
A Decade of Change, A Year of Work
ORF’s Programme Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, who attended this year’s final in Basel, observed how Eurovision has evolved significantly over the past decade. “This scale of production demands flawless coordination. That’s why it’s so important to have trust and open communication with our colleagues at the EBU.”
With less than a year to go until Europe (and bits of Australia and the Caucasus) tune in, Austria now begins its marathon sprint toward May 2026. The location? Still under wraps. The logo? Not yet revealed. The host city jokes? Surely being tested on focus groups as we speak.
But one thing’s clear: Eurovision 2026 is no longer a distant rumour. It’s happening. And it starts now.
Source: OTS.at
