Right on schedule with our annual tradition, the ESCplus team proudly presents our traditional Eurovision Song Contest 2026 handbook. In it, you will find an initial introduction featuring all the detailed general information regarding the organization of this 70th edition, which takes place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna (Austria) on May 12, 14, and 16.
On this occasion, we pay special attention to the current situation surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest, offering a comprehensive review of the events that have taken place in recent editions and which have led to the greatest crisis in the history of the contest, with the boycott of five countries (Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands) in protest against Israel’s participation, something that has overshadowed its 70th anniversary.
In addition, as usual, you will be able to get to know each of the festival’s contenders in depth thanks to the illustrated profiles featuring song details, lyrics, and the biography of each performer. All of this is accompanied by a series of appendices at the end of the file where you can write down the official votes awarded during the festival along with your own ratings.
Don’t hesitate to download our ESCplus handbook to the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 so you can follow the 70th edition of the European contest without missing a single detail!
Eurovision 2026: a 70th anniversary marked by controversy
The Eurovision Song Contest reaches its 70th edition in a complicated international context and under a climate of tension due to the boycott by five countries (Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands) over Israel’s participation.
The Austrian broadcaster ORF takes on the organization of its third Eurovision Song Contest after the previous editions in 1967 and 2015. Interestingly, 11 years ago, the Central European country also hosted the celebration of the contest’s 60th anniversary.
After JJ’s victory with “Wasted Love” in Basel 2025, Austria welcomes the television event. For months, preparations have shaped a Eurovision Song Contest featuring new developments, but with the same clear objective of filling every corner of the world with music, diversity, and inclusion.
For the third time in its history, the European contest will take place in Vienna. As a noteworthy fact, the competition returns to the capital of the host country, something that had not happened since Lisbon 2018. The contest is not only returning to the same city, but also to the same venue: the Wiener Stadthalle.
Throughout the entire process, Michael Krön was responsible for leading the central team of the Eurovision 2026 project, replacing the Swiss producers Moritz Stadler and Reto Peritz.
At the same time, the organization of the festival has undergone major changes in its internal structure. Surrounded by controversy and with more shadows than highlights, Martin Österdahl stepped down from the executive supervision of the Eurovision Song Contest. With his responsibilities already significantly reduced following the arrival of Martin Green CBE in 2025 as director of the event, the Swedish executive described his period leading Eurovision as “a time of remarkable innovation and resilience.”
In the selection of Vienna as the official host city, the economic project was decisive, as the city has the financial backing of the City Council and the collaboration of the main institutions. Thus, the city approved an investment of 22.6 million euros. This figure represents a significant reduction compared to previous editions, although it is higher than the last time Vienna hosted the event in 2015. Back then, the city invested 17 million euros, although the economic return was greater, reaching around 28 million euros.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will maintain its classic format of two semifinals (Tuesday, May 12, and Thursday, May 14) and the Grand Final (Saturday, May 16). In the qualifiers of this 70th edition, following its successful implementation in 2024, the Big 4 (Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom) together with the host country, in this case Austria, will perform live during the respective semifinals in which they vote by draw among the remaining contestants, but without competing.
Vienna 2026 features 35 participating countries. This is the lowest figure in two decades since the implementation of the current semifinal system in Istanbul 2004. Compared to Basel 2025, there are two fewer countries. This includes five withdrawals (Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands) — broadcasters that maintained their firm stance of not sharing the stage with Israel — and three returns (Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania). With these returns, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU-UER) managed to maintain an acceptable participation threshold that has kept the format viable.
On December 15, 2025, the official list of participants was announced, days after the final decision regarding Israel’s participation, which was taken on December 4 during the 95th General Assembly of the EBU.
The five countries that signed the boycott against Israel described its participation on the Eurovision stage as “incompatible” and “inadmissible,” both because of the conflict in Gaza and due to alleged violations of the contest’s rules during the last two editions. As a result, never before had so many countries voluntarily withdrawn. One would have to go back to Copenhagen 2014 to find a similar figure (four countries), although for completely different reasons. It should be remembered that between 1994 and 2003, the country rotation system led to massive withdrawals that allowed other broadcasters to return.