Ever since it was decided that Vienna would be the official venue for the Eurovision Song Contest, preparations have been underway. Austria will host the ESC in 2026 after JJ won the contest this year with “Wasted Love”. The music event of the year is in the starting blocks and the anticipation is already building! Some initial news has already been announced. These include the fact that the preliminary round for ESC 2026 will be decided by TV audience and jury for the first time. Would you like to be part of it or even sing yourself? Now is your chance!
Schedule of “Vienna Calling”
ORF has officially announced the big live show “Vienna Calling – Who sings for Austria?” as the ESC preliminary round for February 20, 2026. For the first time in ten years, viewers and the jury will be able to decide together who will represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest in their own country.
In a main evening show on ORF 1, a total of twelve acts will compete against each other with new songs. Both the audience and an expert jury will vote together to determine who will represent Austria in the ESC final in Vienna on May 16, 2026. Who will represent the host country on Europe’s biggest music stage?
Take part and apply with your song
Are you interested in singing for Vienna? Musicians and songwriters can apply directly to ORF with their entry until October 15, 2025. We are looking for titles that have not yet been released as of September 1, 2025, and reflect the diversity of Austria as a music country – whether pop, ballad or dialect song. It is also important that the contribution is largely created without artificial intelligence.
Applicants must be at least 16 years old. The performance must be live with half playback, the song must last a maximum of three minutes and political messages are prohibited. And if you are already planning your performance: A maximum of six people can be on stage at any one time.
So if you have an idea for a particularly good entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, now is your moment. Apply for the preliminary round for the ESC 2026 – maybe you’ll soon be following in the footsteps of this year’s winner “JJ”.