70th Eurovision Song Contest: ORF takes over Wiener Stadthalle
On Monday, March 30, 2026, the official move-in of ORF into the Vienna Stadthalle began. At 8:00 a.m., the symbolic handover took place, accompanied by the traditional cutting of the „ESC ribbon“ by Executive Producer Michael Krön from ORF and Wiener Stadthalle Managing Director Thomas Waldner. With this act, ORF officially takes over the Wiener Stadthalle as the main venue for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.
35 international companies involved in major event
As early as 7:30 a.m., the general accreditation center opened, and shortly thereafter the first representatives from the media, production, and Song Contest core team arrived. Immediately after the handover, the technical load-in began: the first truck with equipment had already arrived at the venue - marking the start of a major logistical operation. Over the coming days and weeks, hundreds of transport vehicles will deliver a total of approximately 3,500 tons of material. Among other things, 27 cameras and 8,500 LED spotlights will be used. A total of 35 companies are involved in the setup, some of which are working in shifts around the clock.
Safety is the top priority during the setup, and there is a state-of-the-art control network. “We’ve been looking forward to this day for months. It is another milestone on the path to the largest music event in the world. From here, we want to inspire millions of people. What matters now is the collaboration of many people and companies in a constructive and creative work environment, all in one place,” explained Executive Producer Michael Krön to the journalists present.
Stadthalle Managing Director Thomas Waldner was pleased to officially welcome ORF to the Wiener Stadthalle at the official handover. „We are proud to open our arena for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and for a celebration of diversity, emotion, and the unifying power of music. Together we are creating the stage for an event that will shine far beyond Vienna,“ said Waldner.
Ambitious schedule until the grand finale on May 16
First, work will begin on the large Hall D for renovation and stage setup. All other halls will follow in turn. In some cases, performances will continue for the time being - for example, in Hall F, performances of „Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert“ as well as „Dirty Dancing in Concert“ are still taking place.
The schedule for the coming weeks is ambitious: Over the next few days, the technical load-in for all involved trades will continue at full speed. A major “stage opening” is planned for the second half of April, and the first stage rehearsals will begin. At the end of April, a comprehensive security lockdown of the entire Stadthalle complex will take effect. From then on, everyone entering the Stadthalle will have to go through airport-style security checks. Finally, in early May, the delegations will arrive in Vienna with their artists to prepare intensively for the nine public live shows and the three major TV events - the two semifinals on May 12 and 14, and the grand finale of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on May 16.
(March 30, 2026)