On May 16, 2026, the time has come: Vienna will host the 70th ESC (Eurovision Song Contest).
The metropolis of beautiful sounds has been represented by its music for centuries. World-famous composers such as Joseph Haiden delighted the imperial family with their unique tone poems, as did Salzburg-born Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart some time later. Both artists continue to shape classical music to this day. Personalities such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert created further acoustic milestones that are still performed in concert halls around the world today.
Vienna as a city of music
The 19th century saw the development of musical institutions such as the State Opera, the Vienna Musikverein, the Volksoper, the Theater an der Wien and the Konzerthaus. Even today, Vienna’s great musical heritage attracts visitors from all over the world. The large number of performances, for example at the Musikverein, the home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra remain an unforgettable experience for guests.
However, the rich variety of melodies also encouraged people to dance. This is why revue and dance institutions such as the Apollo Theater (now the Apollo Cinema) and the Sophiensäle were established in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The light muse in the form of operettas delighted a wider audience with its simple plot structure and catchy songs. Over time, especially after the Second World War, new musical styles such as jazz became established. The big bands of the US Army popularized swing and bebop.
ESC in Vienna
Austrian soloists such as Friedrich Gulda, Josef Erich (Joe) Zawinul and Hans Salomon left their mark on the Viennese jazz scene and shone at concerts and festivals all over the world. With rock n’ roll and later the beat , pop music also made its mark in the city on the Danube. Vienna hosted the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time on April 8, 1967 in theballroom of the Vienna Hofburg, after Udo Jürgens had won the contest a year earlier in the Villa Louvigny in Luxembourg City with his song “Merci Cherie”.
Conchita Wurst, alias Thomas Neuwirth, won the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen in 2014 with “Rise like a Phoenix”. One year later, Vienna once again had the honor of hosting the major European music show for the 60th time after almost half a century. A decade later, in 2025, “JJ“, real name Johannes Pietsch, won the European singing and music competition with the song “Wasted Love”.
The artist thus brought the international festival of moving melodies back to the Danube metropolis. Between 12 and 16 May 2026, the Wiener Stadthalle will be the musical hub of the continent. Cosmo, real name Benjamin Gedeon, will be competing for Austria with his song “Tanzschein“. We wish the artist every success.
Author: Michael Ellenbogen
Image source: Michael Ellenbogen Private
More information on the ESC Vienna 2026: https://songcontest.orf.at/
