While Vienna is preparing to host the Eurovision Song Contest on February 20, 2026, the Austrian public broadcaster ÖRF organised the song contest titled Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich? 

The singer Sindrit Vokshi competed with his original song “Wenn ich rauche,” representing the Austro-pop genre. Vokshi currently lives in Vienna but is originally from Tirana, Albania's capital, highlighting his multicultural background and artistic identity. 

As part of the televised competition organised by Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, Vokshi performed alongside eleven other artists in hopes of representing Austria on one of the world’s biggest musical stages. The winner was chosen through a combination of jury votes and public televoting. 

Despite delivering a memorable performance, Vokshi ultimately finished ninth in the final ranking, earning 5 points. His participation, however, showcased his talent to a national audience and marked an important step in his career as a professional singer.   His entry contributed to the diversity and artistic richness of the competition, demonstrating the wide range of musical styles present in Austria’s Eurovision selection process.

The winner of Austria’s national selection was the young artist Cosmó, who secured victory with his song “Tanzschein.” He earned the highest combined score from both the jury and the public, finishing in first place among the twelve competing acts.  

Cosmó’s win means that he will represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Cosmó is Hungarian-born, grew up in Burgenland, and now lives in Vienna. His performance was praised for its originality and stage presence, and his victory reflects the strong support he received from both music professionals and viewers. The national final attracted significant attention across Austria, with hundreds of thousands tuning in to watch the live broadcast.

In 2026, Vienna will host the Eurovision Song Contest, marking the third time the Austrian capital has organised the event. The contest will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle, with the grand final scheduled for May 16, 2026, and the semi-finals earlier that same week.  

Vienna was selected as the host city following Austria’s victory at Eurovision 2025, when the Austrian singer JJ won the competition with the song “Wasted Love.” According to the organisers, Vienna was chosen because of its excellent infrastructure, experience hosting large international events, and strong musical tradition.

Hosting Eurovision is a major cultural and economic event for the city. Vienna will welcome artists, fans, and media from across Europe and beyond, reinforcing its reputation as one of the world’s great music capitals. The Eurovision Village, opening ceremonies, and various public celebrations will take place throughout the city, creating a festive atmosphere and bringing people together through music.