Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria

[Juanlittlem 44,982]

17 minutes ago, Dutch said:

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

Its not like were gonna miss them

[Idefix1999 31]

I'm also curious which city will host. As Innsbruck talked about hosting right the next day I think they are really into it. Also they hosted the Olympic Wintergames (almost 50 years ago, though), so a huge event wouldn't be completely new. The Olympiahalle has enough capacity and there are a stadium and smaller arenas next to it. And the Alps are a tourist region anyway so maybe accomodation wouldn't be that much of a problem. 

If small cities like Wels or Oberwart are interested in hosting, Innsbruck and Graz shouldn't be written off right from the start. Give them a chance to at least create a good bid

[Max 21,675]

25 minutes ago, Idefix1999 said:

I'm also curious which city will host. As Innsbruck talked about hosting right the next day I think they are really into it. Also they hosted the Olympic Wintergames (almost 50 years ago, though), so a huge event wouldn't be completely new. The Olympiahalle has enough capacity and there are a stadium and smaller arenas next to it. And the Alps are a tourist region anyway so maybe accomodation wouldn't be that much of a problem. 

If small cities like Wels or Oberwart are interested in hosting, Innsbruck and Graz shouldn't be written off right from the start. Give them a chance to at least create a good bid

Wels/Linz and Oberwart don’t stand a chance against Innsbruck and Graz anyways so the decision will be between Innsbruck, Graz and Vienna. 

I‘m sort of rooting against Innsbruck because it‘s nearly as expensive as Switzerland 

Edited May 20 by Max

[StrawberryBlond 14,682]

On 5/19/2025 at 1:14 AM, AyeshaErotica said:

@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 contrast to your thinking that it seemed dull and behind the times, I thought it looked beautiful and charming. But maybe that's because I never viewed it negatively to begin with. I've always thought it looked like a nice place to visit and the food is right up my street (I love cheese, potatoes, ice cream and chocolate) and as I'm such a particular eater, it's great when another country has national cuisine that I can really enjoy as I don't like seafood, any meat outside beef and chicken and can't take extreme spice. It means eating in a lot of foreign countries would result in me going to chains like McDonalds and wouldn't provide me with the full experience but Switzerland has the stuff I like. Wish I had the daredevil capacity for stuff like skiing because naturally, it's great for winter sports. Lots of museums and art to look at too. Not to mention all the great scenery for photos. The only downside: it's prohibitively expensive. It's not one of the wealthiest European countries for nothing. It has a very high cost of living and even staying there a while costs a lot, much more than it does back home. Most people who go to shops there talk about how they couldn't afford it and it's just for rich people. I think that's what stops most ordinary people from going there. 

5 hours 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

I've asked myself the same question for a long time. Armenia and Azerbijan also compete and they're even further into Asia. Turkey used to compete but I think they're ultimately seen as a majority Asian country now. It doesn't matter to me what the explanations are, Eurovision should be about geographic location. Asiavision used to be a contest, so it's not like they didn't have their own version, so it's always been weird to me. I partly think it's because Israel is very different to the rest of Asia, is close enough to Europe and seen as an ally. Now, Australia being allowed to enter, that's just bizarre. Personally, I think it's to make up for the fact that more and more European countries are sitting it out now as they can't afford to enter or host so they need to make up the numbers somehow.

[Dutch 90,633]

 

43 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Armenia and Azerbijan also compete and they're even further into Asia. Turkey used to compete but I think they're ultimately seen as a majority Asian country now.

While Armenia is geographically located in the South Caucasus, Armenia views itself as part of Europe and is generally considered geopolitically European.

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe.

Turkey is located in Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia.

Russia is also partly in Asia. Why didn't you mention that one?

44 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Eurovision should be about geographic location.

Well no. It isn't and it will never be. 

40 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Asiavision used to be a contest, so it's not like they didn't have their own version, so it's always been weird to me.

Asiavision never happend.

40 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Now, Australia being allowed to enter, that's just bizarre. Personally, I think it's to make up for the fact that more and more European countries are sitting it out now as they can't afford to enter or host so they need to make up the numbers somehow.

Also wrong. In 2015, Australia was invited to compete as a wildcard entry to align with the 'building bridges' theme of that year. Given Guy Sebastian's success (coming in fifth place) that year, the SBS struck a deal with the EBU for Australia to stay on the bill until 2023. Later the deal was extended. In 2015 40 countries were in the contest. One of the highest numbers ever. So your point is just wrong.

[StrawberryBlond 14,682]

1 hour ago, Dutch said:

While Armenia is geographically located in the South Caucasus, Armenia views itself as part of Europe and is generally considered geopolitically European.

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe.

Turkey is located in Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia.

Russia is also partly in Asia. Why didn't you mention that one?

Well no. It isn't and it will never be. 

Asiavision never happend.

Also wrong. In 2015, Australia was invited to compete as a wildcard entry to align with the 'building bridges' theme of that year. Given Guy Sebastian's success (coming in fifth place) that year, the SBS struck a deal with the EBU for Australia to stay on the bill until 2023. Later the deal was extended. In 2015 40 countries were in the contest. One of the highest numbers ever. So your point is just wrong.

A lot of these countries are right on the borderline but are officially recognised as Asian and that's just how I've always viewed them. It should never have to do with politics, religion or anything other than geographic location. Turkey is almost completely in Asia, Istanbul is the only part that's in Europe and that's considered its European capital but its official capital, Ankara, and the rest of the country, is in Asia. Its economic centre being in Istanbul may contribute to it being considered European enough to many. Yes, Russia is partly in Asia, but the majority of its citizens live in the European part, that's where its capital, major cities and government is, so I'll always consider it majority European. It's just so big that it can't help encroaching on the continent next door.

Looking up Asiavision, I'm sure I remembered this happening but I guess I hadn't researched it in so long. Turns out there was something of this nature planned but was ultimately cancelled. But the ABU Song Festival has been a thing since 2012. Non-competitive, but the closest thing.

Yes, I know Australia was invited to compete for that reason but I think that was just PR and it was because it was an aim to make the contest more relevant worldwide and knowing that other countries were going to withdraw due to money issues, it was inevitable that they'd have to branch out. Most people have expressed that they don't think Australia should be competing, that it was a one-off friendly gesture that got out of hand. 

[AyeshaErotica 1,640]

@River Aren't you living in Luzern? What is your opinion of the Kapellbrücke? They have shown in the song previews the Kapellbrücke of Luzern in the background and all in all this was the only time Luzern was referenced. But then they didn't went onto the Kapellbrücke but to chocolate-making in a kitchen

I think Kapellbrücke is the second-best sight of Switzerland after Rheinfall and the Vierwaldstätter See is beautifully flower-shaped on which Luzern is situated (more spectacular than Lake Geneva and Bodensee). The only downside is, is that Luzern is rather small. But it has a university. So it is "a big kind of small".

I will take us in a time capsule and now we go the Kapellbrücke instead of the chocolate-making.

Here:

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 03:11 PM by AyeshaErotica

[River 114,060]

3 minutes ago, AyeshaErotica said:

@River Aren't you living in Luzern? What is your opinion of the Kapellbrücke? They have shown in the song previews the Kapellbrücke of Luzern in the background and all in all this was the only time Luzern was referenced. But then they didn't went onto the Kapellbrücke but to chocolate-making in a kitchen

I think Kapellbrücke is the second-best sight of Switzerland after Rheinfall and the Vierwaldstätter See is beautifully flower-shaped on which Luzern is situated (more spectacular than Lake Geneva and Bodensee). The only downside is, is that Luzern is rather small. But it has a university. So it is "a big kind of small".

I will take us in a time capsule and now we go the Kapellbrücke instead of the chocolate-making.

Here:

 

 

 

Yea it’s so beautiful, my favorite place herE, it’s beautiful in every season

It’s so rare to catch it empty lol

[MayhemMonster 542]

On 5/20/2025 at 1:07 PM, Dutch said:

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

no, this is not true . The Israeli ambassador in Germany just suggested that, but its not for him to decide.

The german broadcaster SWR will participate in next years ESC to ensure a mediocre position