The first details of the Eurovision Village and the Turquoise Carpet for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 have been unveiled.
According to the Municipality of Vienna, the city’s Rathausplatz will host the Eurovision village from May 10 to 17 2026. The Village will be open daily from 11:00 to midnight, with free admission. In addition to live broadcast of the semi-finals and the Grand Final, the square will feature a variety of entertainment opportunities for fans, including concerts, DJ performances, and light shows. A total of ten food stalls will serve guests, with a focus on sustainability. The Eurovision Village will conclude on the last day with a special program entitled “Danke Wien” (Thank you, Vienna).
The Eurovision 2026 festivities will kick off with the Opening Ceremony at Vienna City Hall. All delegations will first present themselves to the public on a large show stage set up directly in front of the town hall. Afterward, the delegations will walk down the Turquoise Carpet, which will stretch in a semicircular shape across the Rathausplatz, giving fans the chance to see their favourite artists up close. The Opening Ceremony will also be broadcast live on the town hall square, allowing attendees to experience the event directly.
Eurovision 2026
As announced last week, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be held in Vienna following JJ’s victory for Austria with “Wasted Love” in Basel. Both semi-finals are scheduled for May 12 and 14, while the Grand Final will take place on May 16. The contest will be hosted at the Wiener Stadthalle, the same venue used in 2015, which can accommodate up to 16,000 spectators.
Image source: ZOOMVP.AT | Source: Stadt Wien Press Service
Austria debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957. Bob Martin represented the country on their debut but finished in last place scoring just 3 points. Austria has won the contest three times, the first being in 1966 when Udo Jürgens performed “Merci, Cherie”. It was 48 years later when Austria won again in 2014, when Conchita Wurst performed “Rise Like a Phoenix”, scoring a total of 290 points. Austria’s third win came in 2025, when JJ sang “Wasted Love” and scored 436 points.
