„Vienna Calling - Who sings for Austria?“: These are the Top 12
From Vienna through Carinthia and Styria to Tyrol, from pop and rock to ballads: Out of more than 500 applications from all federal states, in various languages and across all genres, two bands and ten solo artists are now one step closer to their big dream of representing Austria at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday, May 16, 2026. These twelve acts impressed the ORF editorial team and scouts with their outstanding stage presence and impressive voices during the live castings at the end of November and will present themselves to the jury and audience on Friday, February 20, at 8:15 pm on ORF 1 and ORF ON. For the first time since 2016, there is a national preliminary round with "Vienna Calling – Who sings for Austria?" where viewers can help decide who will compete for Austria.
The live show will be hosted by Alice Tumler, who was part of the hosting quartet for ESC 2015 in Vienna, and Cesár Sampson, who came third for Austria at the 2018 Song Contest in Lisbon and acted as a scout for the current selection process together with Eberhard Forcher and Peter Schreiber.
ORF Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz: „The ESC celebrates its first grand final“
"Austria is once again proving its talent and its high standing as a music country. This includes not only the successes of past ESC participants but also the extremely creative and diverse song submissions. And: it takes a great deal of courage to take to this international stage after a year of winning. The candidates for the final selection are exactly that: courageous, colorful and full of diversity. After the intensive pre-selection by the jury and editorial team, it is now up to our audience to decide who from the top 12 will represent Austria at the ESC. Every vote counts – and for the winners, perhaps the most important journey of their musical life begins. I am happy for each and every one and wish all participants much success – and moments that last. The ESC celebrates its first grand final."
(December 15, 2025)
The Top 12
Anna-Sophie, 25 years old, Styria: „Superhuman“ (Pop, English)
"I wrote the song because I often feel very insecure. I like to listen to songs that motivate me and give me strength again. And that's exactly what the song is supposed to do, to show that there's a superhuman in everyone. The ESC is really a huge party where there's no right or wrong. No matter how you express yourself musically or creatively – it's celebrated. And that's why I think it's so cool."
Bamlak Werner, 24 years old, Carinthia: „We are not just one thing“ (Ethno-Pop, English/German)
"My song is about being more than just one thing. It should give people the feeling that they can truly be whatever they want. That's really important in our time. The song contains a lot of love and honest work, and I want to show that on a huge stage – and the ESC is such an incredible opportunity for that."
Cosmó, 19 years old, Burgenland: „DANCE LICENSE“ (Pop, German)
„I had an experience in a club where I was so excited to finally go - and suddenly no one was dancing. And the song is about how clubs should be about dancing again and you can only get in with a 'dance license'. The ESC is a big dream for me. I watched Conchita Wurst win on TV as a child - and then last year when JJ won. Those were moments full of adrenaline and happiness for me.“
David Kurt, 26 years old, Vienna: „pockets full of snow“ (Ballad, English)
"My song is about love and the feeling you get when you think about important moments in your life and realize that you can't go back to the past. The ESC is such a huge show, yet some always manage to create real emotion. I'm not a big showman, but that the audience feels something and that there is real honesty in the room - that's what I want to achieve with my song.
Frevd, Vienna: „Riddle“ (Rock, English)
„We deal artistically with the world of Sigmund Freud's thoughts. Our music lies between reality and dream and is intended to encourage people to reflect on themselves. The song is about a person who is confronted with difficult decisions and disorientation and seeks help to find a way out of this labyrinth. The ESC is the biggest stage in the world for us, where different cultures and people come together and enjoy the depths and shallows of life together.“
Julia Steen, 23 years old, Carinthia: „Julia“ (German Pop)
„My song is a tribute to showing empowerment and strength in life. I want to encourage people that the path they take is the right one and give them the strength to achieve anything if they truly want to. I want to go to the ESC because I believe that music and this feeling connect beyond language barriers and country borders. That is the top priority at the ESC.“
Kayla Krystin, 31 years old, Tyrol: „I brenn“ (Austro-Pop)
„The song is about my path from the shadows and self-doubt to getting up again and inner strength. I sing in dialect because I want to touch and reach people. It has always been a dream of mine to participate in the ESC. You have the opportunity to reach and touch so many people - that is extremely important to me.“
Lena Schaur, 22 years old, Tyrol: „Painted reality“ (Pop, English)
„My song is about the pursuit of perfectionism and the desire or need to pretend for others. It's a topic that has occupied me for a long time and is so present nowadays, especially with social media. I would like to go to the ESC because I am very fascinated by it. I don't see it as a competition either, I want to be on this stage and celebrate cohesion and diversity.“
Nikotin, Vienna: „Immortal“ (Pop, German)
„My song is about the duality of heaven and hell and the desire to never want to die. You could say it's a modern Frankenstein story or the search for the eternal. The ESC is the biggest music event in the whole world, where countries come together to spend time in peace and harmony and exchange art.“
Philip Piller, 30 years old, Salzburg: „The life is art“ (Pop, German)
"My musical career is connected to the discrepancy that often arises in one's own reflection. It's about carrying both within oneself - the suffering and the beauty. And about how important that is for growth. ‚The Life is Art’ sounds so universally true and is a good motto for me.I think the ESC is so nice because you have a certain amount of fool's freedom and courage often Additionally, it's one of the biggest stages in the world."
Reverend Stomp, Vienna: „Mescalero Ranger“ (Pop, English)
„The song is about a new world and saying goodbye. It's about coming to terms with things I carry from the past during a personal transformation and being ready to embark on a new path. The big ESC stage would be a real challenge for us, one we would gladly face. It would be something completely new for us.“
Tamara Flores, 28 years old, Vienna: „Chingona“ (Latin Pop, Spanish/German)
„The song has the message that you are good as you are - as long as you are honest with yourself and follow your path, no matter what opinions may come from outside. I sing in Spanish and German because I grew up with both languages and I like to combine them because they are so incredibly different. The ESC means to me a gathering of many different people who celebrate music together.“
(December 15, 2025)
"Vienna Calling – Who sings for Austria?" with a new act
Sidrit Vokshi instead of Tamara Flores at the big live show for the national ESC preliminary decision on February 20th on ORF 1 and on ORF ON. more...
Sidrit Vokshi, 35 years old, Vienna: „When I smoke“ (Pop Ballad, German)
"The song is about a man who is experiencing great emotional pain because he misses her. Every evening, he goes from one bar to the next to distract himself. When I smoke and have a moment with myself, all the seams I closed in the bar rip open again. The ESC is an amazing event where countries come together to unite the great common denominator of our cultures – music. After many years, I feel that now is the right time to give something back to Austria - after having received so much here."
(December 18, 2025)