About a month ago, we reviewed the candidates for the Eurovision 2026 location. Most of that list is already gone.
Why is that? Numerous Austrian cities which had expressed an interest in hosting the 2026 contest withdrew from the bidding process. Most did not even submit a formal bid.
All we know for certain is that the 2026 contest will be in Austria, thanks to JJ’s 2025 win in Basel. This will be the country’s first time hosting since 2015, and only the third time ever.
As for the main contenders, well, they are who we thought they were.
Eurovision 2026 Location Update: Bids Submitted
The cities below have formally submitted a bid to host Eurovision, as of 3 July 2025:
- Vienna
- Innsbruck
Still Weighing
St. Polten has expressed interest in hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, but have yet to formally bid.
Eurovision 2026 Location Update: Withdrawn
The following cities had initially indicated interest in bidding for Eurovision 2026, but withdrew from consideration:
- Linz & Wels (joint bid)
- Graz
- Oberwart
- Ebreichsdorf
Did Not Express Interest
These cities indicated that they were not interested in bidding on the Eurovision Song Contest:
- Salzburg
- Klagenfurt
Eurovision 2026 Location: It’s Vienna or Innsbruck, Right?
Obviously. This was the shortlist we felt was the most logical a month ago, and evidently, some other Austrian cities figured it out as well, as they cleared the deck for Vienna and Innsbruck. Even if these were other bids, it was always going to come down to these two.
Both are capable of hosting a contest of this magnitude. Vienna is a world-class city with all of the amenities needed and more, not to mention that they have hosted twice in the past. Innsbruck has hosted the Olympics, which is no small feat. Even though it is not nearly as large as Vienna, they have Olympic venues in the city which could pull this off with ease.
Approximately a month from now, by 8 August, we will know where the contest is heading.
Is Vienna Still The Favorite?
Most likely, but that is not a guarantee. Innsbruck is more than capable of hosting the contest themselves, and they have the advantage of presenting a new and different option from what Austria has done with hosting in the past. Vienna’s advantages are clear, and though they might outweigh Innsbruck’s, that does not mean it’s a done deal for Vienna.
Don’t book your hotel rooms yet.