Impressive shows, impressive record: That was the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on ORF
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna brought record ratings for the organizer ORF! With the three live shows – the first and second semi-finals and the big final show – and the ESC preliminary coverage on ORF-1 in the evening, the Eurovision Song Contest on ORF television captivated a total of 4.567 million viewers (widest audience, final weighted), which is 61 percent of the Austrian TV population aged 12 and above. The widest audience of the ORF program on ORF 1, ORF 2, and ORF III – from the start of the ESC program on ORF on April 24 with the first „We are Song Contest“ show to the recap shows the day after the grand final, May 17 – reached a total of 5.604 million viewers, which is 74 percent of the domestic TV population aged 12 and above. The programming included the Opening Ceremony, live broadcasts from the ORF Glass Studio at Vienna's Rathausplatz, news specials, documentaries, movies, and a variety of other shows dedicated to the ESC.
The ORF also achieved record values in the online realm. With over 450 content pieces, ORF garnered around 100 million views on its social media channels. Since April 24, ESC live streams and videos logged 66 million usage minutes in Austria. Stories, live tickers, and background reports on songcontest.ORF.at and across the ORF.at network generated more than 13 million page impressions. On debatte.ORF.at, fans actively engaged and posted over 14,000 comments. More than 1,900 postings went on air as part of „TXT meets ESC“ on ORF TELETEXT.
The most emotional performances, spectacular show moments, and major ESC highlights from Vienna 2026 are summarized in the official highlight video. The video provides a compact recap of the live shows, side events, and the unique atmosphere in the host city Vienna.
The video is available via the following link: https://youtu.be/L-1WZxitY1M.
ORF Voices on Eurovision Song Contest 2026
ORF Director General Ingrid Thurnher: „The ORF kept its promise and thrilled the world with shows at Vienna's Stadthalle. This is not only evident in the extraordinary response after the final but also in the record ratings and social media reach in the millions. The ORF offered a comprehensive program across all media channels, which was exceptionally well received, and we are very proud of that. Furthermore, the ORF made the ESC accessible to everyone, thus fulfilling another important promise: hosting a Eurovision Song Contest that everyone will fondly remember.“
ORF Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz: "The record ratings vividly showcase the unifying power of the Eurovision Song Contest – in linear television as well as on ORF's streaming platforms. The tremendous audience response is a great affirmation of the work done by the ORF team and shows that Vienna 2026 has set a strong, modern, and open-minded example for Austria. I'm especially pleased that we succeeded in combining the international diversity of the Eurovision Song Contest with Austrian and Viennese identity, setting new worldwide standards with the breathtaking stage and high-quality technical visualizations. Thus, we managed to create an event that will hold a special place in the history of the ESC."
Harald Kräuter, Director of Technology and Digitalization at ORF: "The sensational success in the digital realm shows that we have fully transitioned to a multimedia platform and that the Eurovision Song Contest was also a mega-event online. With a record of 66 million usage minutes, streaming via ORF ON became the backbone of this major production. The figures prove: the Song Contest was watched everywhere – on smartphones and tablets or via streaming at numerous public viewings."
Eva Schindlauer, Commercial Director of ORF: „The impressive reach and tremendous international attention demonstrate that the investment in quality, innovation, and collaboration within the framework of the Eurovision Song Contest has more than paid off. My heartfelt thanks go to all partners, sponsors, institutions, and supporters whose commitment significantly contributed to realizing the ESC in Vienna at this high level. This collaborative effort was the foundation for the smooth operation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will have a lasting impact.“
Michael Krön, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026: "It has only been a few days since the Eurovision Song Contest at Vienna's Stadthalle, THE TV entertainment event of the year, took place, yet we can already draw a wonderful balance: We reached and delighted millions around the world with our breathtaking shows, fulfilled artists' dreams of performing on one of Europe's most modern and impressive stages, and gave Austria and Europe the opportunity to immerse in a world that appreciates tolerant and human, as well as artistic diversity."
100 million views – ORF Social Media with Record Values
ORF placed a significant focus on communicating the Eurovision Song Contest via social media. The emphasis was on platform-appropriate preparation of entertainment, public-value, and event content, as well as high-frequency real-time engagement during the live phase of the Eurovision Song Contest. Overall, ORF's social media team produced around 450 content pieces for Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Throughout the period in which ORF was tasked with hosting the 70th Eurovision Song Contest and eventually organized nine shows in May 2026, a total of 100.9 million views were achieved. Of these, more than 64 million views were on Instagram, and more than 36 million views were on TikTok. The TikTok channel of ORF was launched at the start of social media activities for the ESC and, like the existing Instagram account, significantly gained users.
The most successful Instagram video („Stage Secrets“) reached 7.7 million video views, while the most successful TikTok video („Best of DARA“) generated 8.6 million views. Aside from non-linear social content on Instagram and TikTok, ORF's social media team was also involved in other formats and responsible for their implementation. These included a YouTube LIVE for the Austrian preliminary contest „Vienna Calling,“ which generated over 150,000 video views on the platform, a two-hour Instagram LIVE & TikTok LIVE at the Opening Ceremony at Vienna's Rathausplatz, which generated more than 22,000 video views, over 6,700 comments, and more than 97,000 likes, as well as an ORF Creators Day at the Grand Final Evening Preview.
Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in ORF-Online Network
Online offerings from the ORF.at network around the event website songcontest.ORF.at and the digital flagship store ORF ON provided a full ESC program – with exciting stories and backgrounds on all aspects of the mega-event, multimedia live tickers, streams of all shows and broadcasts, as well as exclusive video content.
The comprehensive ORF video-stream package with all three live shows, the entire TV framework program, and exclusive supporting content such as „ESC Backstage Diary“ and „Eurovision Vintage Feelings“ was highly popular among fans: ORF's provided live streams and videos-on-demand logged – primarily through use on ORF ON – a total of 66 million minutes of usage in Austria since April 24, with 7.0 million gross views (video starts) and 1.8 million net views (coherent usage processes). Alone the final day brought in Austria a new ESC record with 33 million usage minutes since measurement introduction in 2017 and also very strong 2.8 million gross views and 740,000 net views. Also abroad, the ORF video streams from the final day including FM4 commentary by Jan Böhmermann and Olli Schulz were in high demand, with 16 million usage minutes and around 550,000 gross views and 290,000 net views (Online moving image measurement AGTT/GfK TELETEST census).
Also on the web and via apps, the ESC was a hit: The website songcontest.ORF.at launched in February and extensive ESC coverage during the final week and the days afterward across the ORF.at network achieved a total of over 13 million page impressions (internal statistics) – around 800,000 of them alone for live tickers during the three TV shows. On debatte.ORF.at, fans were able to comment live and after the event on all three shows. The most original of the over 14,000 postings were displayed on TV during the action „TXT meets ESC“ in ORF TELETEXT – more than 1,900 went on air.
Stories and streams are still available for reading and viewing at songcontest.ORF.at and ORF ON.
Vienna Stadthalle, Eurovision Village, EuroClub, Eurofan House, and Media Center – More Impressive Figures
Not only the reach indicates great interest in the ESC 2026 in Vienna: More than 97,000 visitors attended all nine shows (including three live shows) at Vienna's Stadthalle. Across the entire ESC week, approximately 150,000 visitors were welcomed to the Eurovision Village at Vienna's Rathausplatz, the official fan zone of ESC 2026. Around 16,000 guests – fans, artists, delegations, and press representatives – celebrated at the EuroClub in PraterDOME – the biggest music show in the world. The Eurofan House at Wien Museum attracted 23,400 visitors with talks, press events, and stage programs. Overall, 1,000 national and international accredited journalists followed the live shows and daily press conferences at the press center in Vienna's Stadthalle, which also served as a meeting point for media representatives and artists.
XI DING'S EUROVISUALS – presented by LIGHT INTO DARKNESS
A special action for all ESC fans wanting to do something good at the same time: The internationally renowned quick artist Xi Ding portrayed all participants of this year's Eurovision Song Contest and many star guests like Lordi, Tommy Cash, and others, who were on stage in the Eurovision Village at Vienna's Rathausplatz, in his own unique style – sometimes live during the performances of the respective acts in the Eurovision Village. The online auction by Aurena (aurena.at) started shortly before the ESC final on Saturday, May 16, at 18:00 on the Eurovision Village stage, where some of the drawn exhibits were presented beforehand. All proceeds go to the association LIGHT INTO DARKNESS, which has been supporting thousands of families in need and people with disabilities in living a self-determined life for more than five decades. The auctioned pictures will be shipped within the EU free of charge by Aurena.
Accreditations, Delegations and Volunteers: Impressive Numbers on Organization
The Eurovision Song Contest was not only musically impressive but also demonstrated high-level international organizational excellence. With 22 accreditation zones at the main venue and ten more in the Eurovision Village, a clear, efficient structure was created, ensuring smooth operations for guests, media, and all involved. A total of more than 14,500 accredited participants took part in the event.
The competition's international appeal is particularly evident in the strong presence of industry professionals: around 900 delegation members and approximately 1,000 media representatives from around the world were accredited. Behind the scenes, over 5,500 experts in event management, host broadcasting, security, and venue operations ensured a safe and professional workflow. Adding to the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest were more than 650 volunteers from 45 nations, whose commitment, internationality, and passion significantly shaped the event.
This accounting is clear: The Eurovision Song Contest was not just a show – but an organizational masterpiece with worldwide impact.
Eurovision Song Contest for Everyone: The Accessible Offering
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna was an event for all, as evidenced by ORF's impressive, extensive accessible offerings during the Song Contest. ORF provided a variety of services: from accompanying song performances in International Sign, vibration vests, and Accessify.Live to all accessible services within ORF (subtitling, audio description, and sign language interpretation). ORF thereby set a strong example for people with disabilities – in the program, at Vienna's Stadthalle, and at public viewings.
The accessible offering included a dedicated information point, vibration vests for people with hearing impairments translating music into vibrations, escort and pick-up services by volunteers, a safer-space quiet area, wheelchair and accessible seating areas, and permission for assistance dogs. Additionally, sensory relief tools like in-ear hearing protection, capsule hearing protection, light-shield frames, and fidgets, as well as induction and Auracast systems for hearing support, were available, making the live experience more accessible. Visitors with disabilities also had the opportunity to join a „Touch Tour“ backstage tour at Vienna's Stadthalle. The „Touch Tours“ were especially for visitors with visual impairments/blindness or neurodivergence. Another highlight was Accessify.Live: The AI-based plug-and-play solution offered numerous services via QR code, such as audio description, ÖGS interpretation, sign performances, live subtitling in German and English (speech-to-text), and hearing support directly on their smartphone – without needing an app download.
(May 28, 2026)