Eurovision Song Contest 2026
Eurovision in Austria: Important dates, past winners, fan experiences and more.
Introduction
Austria’s winning formula at the Eurovision Song Contest: strong artists beyond the mainstream! From Udo Jürgens to Conchita Wurst to JJ and Cosmó – they all have something extra special.
Good evening Europe - and beyond! After hosting the 60th Eurovision Song Contest in 2015, Vienna is once again welcoming the world at the Wiener Stadthalle from 10 to 16 May. 35 nations compete for the trophy at the largest TV show in the world.
Austria itself can proudly look back on three victories at the Eurovision Song Contest– in 1966, 2014, and 2025. The winners: true Austrian originals. From the style-defining entertainer Udo Jürgens to the "bearded lady", Conchita Wurst, and J, an opera singer who blends powerful vocals with modern beats.
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Global Communications
Cosmó sings for Austria
This year, Cosmó represents Austria on the Eurovision stage with 'Tanzschein' ('Dance Licence'). The 19-year-old singer-songwriter Benjamin Gedeon stands for modern German-language pop with club influences. His stage name reflect his openness to the world and his fascination with the universe. At the Eurovision Song Contest, he aims to "make the audience dance, inspire viewers and spread love through music".
Cosmó reached the final of The Voice Kids in 2022 and has performed at clubs and balls since. In 2025, he founded his current band The Thumbs.
Factsheet ESC
Location: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna (Austria)
Finale: Saturday, 16 May 2026
Edition: 70th Eurovision Song Contest
Theme: "United by Music“
Participating countries: 35
Important Dates
Eurovision Week from 10 May 2026
1st Semi-Finale: 12 May 2026
2nd Semi-Finale: 14 May 2026
Final: 16 May 2026
9 live shows in total (including dress rehearsals and jury shows)
Eurovision & Music News in Austria
Udo Jürgens
Udo Jürgens brought Austria its first Eurovision Song Contest victory in 1966. At the same time, the contest marked the starting point of his decades-long career. With “Merci, Chérie" he relied less on staging and more on simplicity: voice, piano, and a clear musical structure - with great success. The single topped the charts in more than 20 countries.
His hometown Klagenfurt in Austria's southernmost province Carinthia honours the late singer with a 400 m² permanent exhibition at the kärnten.museum opening in 2027. It shows the artist in all his facets: from his beginnings in Carinthia to his international music career. Personal items, awards, instruments, and memorabilia (such as the medal from his victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 1966) offer insights into a life shaped by music and creative restlessness.
Conchita Wurst
Almost five decades later, in 2014, Austria returned to the top of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with Conchita Wurst. “The bearded diva,” as Tom Neuwirth described his artistic persona, with her winning motto “We are unstoppable!” became an overnight global figurehead for the LGBTQIA+ community and sparked a Europe-wide debate about diversity.
Today, Tom Neuwirth is increasingly positioning himself as a versatile artist across music, fashion, and human rights, appearing in a variety of stage formats.
Currently, Tom Neuwirth is starring as the queer Archduke Ludwig Viktor in the play Luziwuzi at the Rabenhof Theater in Vienna. He is also touring across German-speaking countries with the variety show Frau Thomas & Herr Martin blending Viennese folklore, jazz, swing, Latin, and schlager into a diverse programme.
From 28 September to 3 October 3 2027, he will be part of the Rainbow Cruise 2027, a cruise specifically designed for the LGBTQIA+ community.
JJ
With his victory in 2025, JJ continued Austria’s success story almost a decade later. His entry “Wasted Love” captivated audiences with its strong emotional dramaturgy and distinctive artistic signature. The song is described as “operatic pop,” blending classical vocal technique with modern pop and electronic elements.
As a classically trained countertenor, JJ deliberately breaks musical boundaries. His debut album Into the Unknown (release date: 14 May 2026) further developing this genre-crossing direction. His first single was titled Back to Forgetting".
The House of Austrian History currently hosts the special exhibition Unstoppable! Eurovision Song Contest Highlights in the Museum (until 11 October 2026), featuring the stage design of Wasted Love by JJ. Other exhibits include Conchita Wurst’s iconic winning dress, as well as images from the first Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in 1967. Unstoppable! shows the close connections between the show and changes in politics, identities and society over the years.