Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria

[Dutch 90,615]

What in the ChatGPT.

[InTheCloset 18,741]

4 hours ago, Dutch said:

Israel. Let's just call it for what it is. They ruined the contest together with the EBU having 0 spine and changing the whole contest just for them to participate. Muting the crowd to hide the boos, which resulted in very boring performances for the others... No press conferences so Israel won't get "risky" questions... Disqualifying Joost when Israel was being awful BTS. Feeing Spain for telling the truth while Israel said awful stuff about Ireland in 2024 and wrong stuff about Armenia this year. The list is LONG and I won't shut up about it any longer.

Whats so funny is they lost even with all the bought votes

[StrawberryBlond 14,665]

4 hours ago, Dutch said:

I need Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria back. It's becoming too much of a west European show right now.

Hungary, Montenegro and North Macedonia as well. I understand why Belarus isn't there, too affiliated with Russia. Is there any official reason given for why they don't compete or even put forward a televote spokesperson? I've been noticing that they've been gone for the last few years and no one's said why. Romania especially have always loved Eurovision, I don't know why they'd voluntarily sit it out.

2 hours ago, AyeshaErotica said:

@StrawberryBlond aren't you going to a Gaga concert to Manchester? Wouldn't you say Liverppool and Manchester are somehow well connected with each other?

Very close, yes. I think the reason Liverpool was selected was because it just needed a shake-up. London tends to host the biggest events and when it comes to smaller ones like Commonwealth Games, other big cities get a chance. It was between Liverpool or Glasgow and as Glasgow has seen so many large scale events for quite a while now and Liverpool never get anything, they were given a chance to shine. Not the biggest arena, though. There's every chance Austria will have the same reasoning and opt for a lesser known area. All the biggest costs can't always be attributed to one city as it's very expensive and Vienna hosted it last time. 

[InTheCloset 18,741]

Im listening to other songs now and zjerm is such a banger too. i loveee it

[Bellatrix 34,689]

10 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Is there any official reason given for why they don't compete or even put forward a televote spokesperson? I've been noticing that they've been gone for the last few years and no one's said why.

Belarus was disqualified in 2021 for submitting a song that was deemed too political. After that their broadcaster got their EBU membership suspended for not living up to the requirements of media freedom during the election that was going on around that time. So they haven't been allowed to participate in any way.
 

Now as Russias puppet state they are focusing on the revival of "Intervision Song Contest" together with Russia instead of returning to ESC.

[AyeshaErotica 1,640]

9 hours ago, tomsches said:

It’s probably gonna be in Vienna again. It’s the easiest to reach for Most fans and can definitely handle the amount of tourists coming to See the show. Innsbruck would be cool but I don’t think theyre gonna go for an alpine vibe twice in a row. And since an opera Song won they will probably want to promote Vienna‘s opera and classical music scene. 

Actually Basel is outside the Alps, not an alpine city and the only major city on a relatively flat countryside within Switzerland (the others aren't in the Alps either but in "transition territory to Alps", noticeably hilly, while Innsbruck is truly alpine).

But there will be a second Alpine feeling, because Switzerland was represented as a whole country, which also included the Alps, and Austria is also an Alpine country as a whole, regardless what city will be chosen. In a way, Switzerland has taken the excitement and novelty away from Austria, because both nature and architecture are very similair, and we already know it from Switzerland. It will be hard to offer something new after Europe already got to know Austria in 2015 and the alpine theme was served by Switzerland now.  I agree that Vienna as a centre of opera is the most likely pick.

3 hours ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Hungary, Montenegro and North Macedonia as well. I understand why Belarus isn't there, too affiliated with Russia. Is there any official reason given for why they don't compete or even put forward a televote spokesperson?

Romania left because of financial costs, although it is hard to understand why a small country like Latvia covers the costs while Romania not. It seems they simply do not care for ESC enough.

But perhaps it's better if the countries that aren't enthusiastic about it don't participate, otherwise we'll end up with a half-hearted show like Switzerland, which was a low-budget production, even though Switzerland has the money to afford more but they decided to do not. That's the problem with the pure Calvin work ethic: it's geared toward generating more money with minimal expenditure. Other countries have put much more passion and sacrifice into their preparations. When Hazel Brugger suggested giving out an aluminum decorated water bottle as a trophy, I swear to you, if Switzerland weren't legally obligated to hand over the original trophy made of glass, they would really have probably given out a cheap bronze trophy and not a golden one to minimize costs.

Even worse, ORF (national broadcoaster of Austria) already complained about the upcoming costs and doesn't see ESC as a joy but rather as a burden... I don't know how this will affect the ESC interlude and opening shows but something tells ORF will also decide for a low-budget show.

[AyeshaErotica 1,640]

@StrawberryBlond  What was your impression of Switzerland, of the country as it was presented during the ESC during the recordings, interludes, openings, etc., and how it "designed" the Eurovision Song Contest as a host country? (Everyone can answer this question who reads it)

In German-speaking countries, Switzerland is seen as a lame, dull, uneventful, but also orderly, clean, reliable, and well-functioning country. A paradise for seniors who want peace and quiet and are mainly interested in a walk in a forest or onto mountains.

Unfortunately, I have to say, Switzerland confirmed all the clichés and presented itself as one would have expected. It portrayed itself as everyday, banal, whose greatest highlight is eating ice cream at a lake... Not bad but that's something I could do in my city, too.  It didn't seize the opportunity to portray itself as hip and cool. Only the alpine climate was cool.

Instead, it has combined and appropriated so many Italian-speaking elements into its show that one might think it is like a kind of Belgium divided into roughly equal halves, although this is just 8% of the population and only 4% by the number of population where Italian is the main language.

I must confess, sometimes when the previews where shown I was leaving the TV to bring in some food from the kitchen and didn't watch all previews, but of all these I've seen, there was no reference to the Romansh (Rätoromanisch) minority, or am I wrong? I don't complain about this but the proportions where just weird and they should have credited the Romansh community.

Spoiler

Usually, in Switzerland the Italian-part is neglected and the French part gets more focus than it should by demographic composition but yesterday, apart form the Swiss flop French song, there was not much Francophone input in the previews and interludes and instead Italian took the position that French usually had. This surprised me!

Michelle Hunziker said some memorable things; she says she lives in Italy and Hazel in Germany. And Nemo, by the way, lives mainly in Berlin (with a second apartment in Zürich). This actually shows that people who want to do something important in their lives or bring excitement into it do it outside of Switzerland. To me, now Switzerland doesn't seem more exciting than Scotland after the Eurovision Song Contest, maybe even on the level of Whales. It got "forest status".

It did nothing to improve or change the image of Switzerland, imo.

Spoiler

And perhaps the Swiss intended it this way because they do not want to be visited but rather have their ocuntry just for themselves and live quietly in their towns.

 

As for Austria, it might be similar. Vienna is large, respected, renowned, and eventful metropolis, but it's also essentially a dusty metropolis stuck in bygone centuries. Everything there feels old-fashioned, centuries old, reminiscent of imperial times like the monarchy with Hungary. Its full of history, but lacks the youthful sparkle. It's music is old and classic like opera and the winning song. Vienna is the opposite of Tokyo.  Austria's ESC song from 2024 was SOOO much hipper and stronger and fresher and powerful and I'd never expect sth like this from Austria. If you want to do something modern or cool, you better go to the Reeperbahn in Hamburg or to a club in Berlin that blurs the boundaries of a music club and séx club.

Spoiler

There you will also meet the Finnish singer!

The Beatles started their career in a club in Hamburg. Hamburg has an open spirit. Berlin is the dreamt future of the 20th century, while Vienna is history books and loyal to opera. (A good condition to win ESCs, though, as Conchita did, too) I expect Vienna to win the ESC every 10-15 years with an opera song because this is what half of Europe adores and Vienna does it best.

 

Edited Monday at 12:52 AM by AyeshaErotica

[DesertWolf 47,065]

So we have 5 ESC 2025 songs charting on the Spotify global 200

#23 Wasted Love - 2,281,677 streams 🇦🇹

#35 Espresso Macchiato - 2,151,150 🇪🇪

#46 Bara bada bastu - 1,978,078 🇸🇪

#59 Baller - 1,800,519 🇩🇪

#181 Volevo essere un duro - 1,133,187 🇮🇹

Where's the so called "televote winner"?

 

[Dutch 90,615]

So we have the Spanish president, Spanish, Icelandic, Slovenian, Finland Belgian broadcasters all asking for transparency and voting system changes. Otherwise they might withdraw. They also want Israel out.
 

I can see Netherlands joining them. It’s happening guys. I hope. 

Edited Monday at 05:36 PM by Dutch

[DesertWolf 47,065]

20 minutes ago, Dutch said:

Spanish president

perro sanche icon

meanwhile right parties voters claiming it's his fault we ended so low in Eurovision and proudly voting for the trashy song. As if we didn't knew since January that the spanish song was an outdated flop and was aiming at a #21 in the best case 

[InsomniaMonster69 3,385]

On 5/18/2025 at 3:40 PM, Max said:

Interested cities as of now: Wels, Innsbruck, Oberwart, Graz and Vienna. Salzburg and Klagenfurt won‘t host according to ORF. 

Not Oberwart and Wels

[Dutch 90,615]

16 hours ago, Dutch said:

I can see Netherlands joining them. It’s happening guys. I hope. 

And we just did. Ugh, slay. 

[PartySick 155,587]

16 hours ago, Dutch said:

So we have the Spanish president, Spanish, Icelandic, Slovenian, Finland Belgian broadcasters all asking for transparency and voting system changes. Otherwise they might withdraw. They also want Israel out.
 

I can see Netherlands joining them. It’s happening guys. I hope. 

I've always wondered, why is Israel even in Eurovision?

I'll take one person answering please to avoid derailing y'all's thread

[Dutch 90,615]

12 minutes ago, PartySick said:

I've always wondered, why is Israel even in Eurovision?

I'll take one person answering please to avoid derailing y'all's thread

It’s not 100% about Europe as a continent and more about being a member of the EBU, the European Broadcasting Union. THE RIGHT to participate in the contest is contingent on membership of the European Broadcasting Union. The statutes of the Union limit membership "primarily ... to organisations in the European Broadcasting Area. This area, as defined by the International Telecommunications Union, extends from the Atlantic to the meridian 40 deg E. It is bounded on the south by the 30th parallel." Jerusalem, the official headquarters of Israeli Television, is 35 deg E, and on the 32nd parallel. This definition also allows for participation by Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, the Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia. Israeli participation deters these countries on a point of principle, although Morocco did enter in 1980 when Israel withdrew for Passover.
 

Australia was invited and only is allowed to participate if they keep getting invited back. This could happen with every country if the EBU finds a reason for it.

Edited Tuesday at 10:08 AM by Dutch

[Dutch 90,615]

Germany withdrawing if Israel will be deleted from Eurovision. Always on the wrong side of history…