ESC in Vienna - FAQs
About the event
A multi-stage ticketing system is being used for the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Fans can pre-register for tickets until December 18, 2025 to be eligible for later ticket sales. Only if this registration is completed successfully, tickets can be purchased during one of several sales rounds. The first wave starts on January 13, 2026 at 1 p.m. Please note: Registration and ticket purchases can only be made via the official websites eurovision.com and oeticket.com. Please be aware that only by purchasing tickets through official sales channels you can be sure of obtaining a valid ticket for the event. Do not use any other sales channels under any circumstances. How can I get tickets?
The contest´s two semifinals on May 12 and 14, 2026 (Tuesday and Thursday) as well as the Grand Final on May 16, 2026 (Saturday) will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle. It is Austria's largest event hall and already served as the ESC´s venue in 2015.
Where and when will the live shows take place?
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will officially kick off on May 10, 2026 (Sunday) with its big Opening Ceremony held on a Turquoise Carpet. This event will take place at Vienna's City Hall Square, where you will also find the Eurovision Village during the following ESC week. There, the live shows will be broadcasted and numerous other events will take place, including live performances.
When and where will the Opening Ceremony take place?
The Eurovision Village on Vienna's City Hall Square will be open daily from May 10 to 17, from 11 a.m. to midnight or until the end of the shows, free of charge (as long as there is space available). Both semifinals and the final will be broadcasted live here.
Where can I participate in public screenings in Vienna?
The volunteer program has a long tradition at Eurovision. The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) is looking for a total of around 800 volunteers to help organize this mega event - for the press center, information desks, at the main venue Wiener Stadthalle, the Eurvision Village at City Hall Square and the airport. The registration process runs until January 28, 2026 (11:59 p.m.) via the website of ORF (in German).How can I apply to be a volunteer?
Getting around
By train Vienna's inner-city train stations are well connected to the subway, tram, and bus networks. From Vienna Main Station, take the subway line U1 (red line) for three stops to Stephansplatz, which marks the heart of Vienna. From Meidling Train Station, take the S-Bahn towards the city center to Wien Mitte Station. From Vienna´s Westbahnhof, you can take the subway line U3 (orange line) towards the city center. By plane There is a variety of ways to get from Vienna´s International Airport to the city center in a quick and comfortable manner: the City Airport Train, Railjet trains, S-bahn trains, bus, or taxi. From the airport to the city center By bus Vienna has three large long-distance bus terminals, all of which are well connected to the city's public transport system: By car Vienna is perfectly connected to the motorway, expressway, and federal highway network. Please note that you need to pay tolls when traveling on Austrian motorways, including Vienna's city motorways. You can purchase a so-called vignette with the right validity period directly at the border or online. Please be aware that Vienna has comprehensive fee-based short-term parking zones withing the city limits, active from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (except on public holidays). Outside these times, parking in Vienna is generally free of charge (unless otherwise indicated by traffic signs). As an alternative, you can use numerous paid parking garages and park-and-ride facilities.How can I reach Vienna´s city center?
The semifinals on May 12 and 14 as well as the Grand Final on May 16 will take place at Wiener Stadthalle. The venue is well connected to the public transport network. The nearest subways stop is the U6 station (brown line) “Burggasse-Stadthalle”. Tram lines 6 and 18 also stop here, while tram lines 9 and 49 stop at nearby “Urban Loritz Platz”. Bus 48A with its stops “Moeringgasse” and “Koppstraße/Thaliastraße” (depending on the direction of travel) are also good options. Tickets for public transport in Vienna Or how about getting around Vienna by bike?How do I get to the ESC shows at Wiener Stadthalle?
The Opening Ceremony of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest will take place on May 10 at Vienna's City Hall Square - with a Turquoise Carpet. Afterwards, the Eurovision Village will be open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight (or until the end of the shows) with admission being free. Live broadcasts of the semifinals and finals will take place on May 12, 14, and 16. Rathausplatz (City Hall Square) is located in the city center and is therefore easily accessible by public transport. On the one hand, via the U2 station (purple line) “Rathaus”. Tram lines 1, 71, and D stop at the “Rathausplatz, Burgtheater” station on Vienna's Ringstrasse. If you are taking tram line 2, get off at either the “Rathaus” or “Parlament” station. From the nearby transport hubs "Volkstheater" and “Schottentor,” it is only a short walk to Rathausplatz. Or how about getting around Vienna by bike?How do I get to the Eurovision Village at City Hall Square?
Vienna´s public transport network is world-renowned and works extremely well. Travelling by subway, train, tram, and bus is usually the fastest way to reach your destination - and they are very easy to use, too. Tickets: A single ticket is valid for the entire Vienna city zone until you reach your destination, including multiple transfers (even to different modes of transport). Time-based tickets are also available in several variants. Tickets are sold at the multilingual ticket machines in subway stations and train stations (there are also ticket counters at selected stations) or digitally via the WienMobil App or the Wiener Linien online shop. Operating hours: The Vienna subway runs between Monday and Friday from approximately 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays (Thursday, May 14, is a public holiday in Austria), the subway operates around the clock. Night buses run daily from approximately 12:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. every 30 minutes.
Good to know: With the Vienna City Card, you not only enjoy discounts at many Vienna hotels, museums, concerts, events, guided tours, shops, and restaurants - public transportation in Vienna is also included during the validity period of the Vienna City Card.What public transportation options are available in Vienna, and how do I purchase tickets?
If you are a third-country national (i.e. not a citizen of a European Union member state, the European Economic Area EEA or Switzerland) entering the country for a short stay without a residence permit, you will be digitally registered at the Schengen borders. The new Entry/Exit System (EES) replaces the manual stamping of passports and registers travelers' biometric data at the airport. If you are a third-country national entering Austria from outside the Schengen area via Vienna International Airport, this system may affect you.What do I need to know when entering Austria?
While in Vienna
Yes, the Vienna City Card not only offers discounts for many Vienna hotels, museums, concerts, events, guided tours, shops, and restaurants - it also serves as a ticket for the entire public transportation network within the city limits. The Vienna City Card is available for various periods of time. Airport transfer or a ticket for sightseeing buses can also be purchased on top.
Is there a guest card with discounts in Vienna?
Yes - ivie is the official digital city guide app for Vienna (available free of charge for iOS and Android). You will get to know countless exciting places such as sights, museums, parks, restaurants, bars, shops, and even public restrooms, as well as fascinating facts and stories about them. With curated walks, audio guides, event tips, anecdotes, and themed guides, you can discover Vienna at your own pace. ivie - your personal Vienna guide
Is there an official app for Vienna?
The AI Concierge provided by the Vienna Tourist Board answers all your questions at any time of the day or night - from questions about sights to travel tips and the Vienna City Card. For direct assistance, please contact the Vienna Tourist Board at +43 1 24 555, info@wien.info, or visit the Tourist Information Offices (Tourist Infos) at Albertinaplatz and Vienna Airport.Where can I direct my questions about Vienna 24/7?
Vienna is a cosmopolitan city and welcomes all its guests with open arms - including members of the LGBTIQ+ community. Some districts of Vienna offer a particularly wide range of queer activities.What can members of the LGBTIQ+ community experience in Vienna?
Vienna's hotel scene is very diverse: from 5-star luxury hotels to budget alternatives, there is something for every taste. Our hotel list provides practical informations about accommodation in Vienna. With the Vienna City Card discount card, you receive a 20% discount on overnight stays in selected hotels.How can I find a hotel room?
Sustainability and inclusion
Ecological sustainability was already a key focus when Vienna applied to host the event. The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) is aiming for two certifications: “Green Event” and “Green Producing in Film and Television.” Key areas are energy, mobility, waste, and sustainable procurement. The electricity supply for the event venue, the Wiener Stadthalle, comes largely from the its own photovoltaic system. On top of that, only environmentally certified companies that use seasonal, organic, and ethically produced food will be hired for catering. In addition, there will be user-friendly waste separation systems. Is the Eurovision Song Contest a sustainable event?
The Eurovision Song Contest aims to be a music festival for everyone. All songs will be produced with musical gestures and provided to the participating broadcasters. This was done for the first time in ESC history in Vienna in 2015 - and has since become the standard. On Austrian television, the shows are broadcasted with subtitles and translated into Austrian sign language. They will also come with audio description. Is the Eurovsion Song Contest an inclusive event?
