Almost Here: Tens of Thousands of Fans From 70 Countries On Their Way to Vienna for Eurovision's 70th Anniversary Edition

Preparations for Eurovision 2026 are reaching their peak, with figures indicating unprecedented global interest in the 70th anniversary of the popular song contest. According to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Austrian broadcaster ORF, around 95,000 tickets have been sold so far for nine shows (live and rehearsals). Buyers come from 75 different countries.

The event, which will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna from May 11 to 16, is expected to generate a lot of interest. The first semi-final of the contest has been scheduled for May 12, with the second semi-final taking place two days later, on May 14. The final will be broadcast on May 16.

In terms of ticket buyers, Austria, the host country, leads with 58% of sold tickets, but the striking figure is the international demand: thousands of fans are expected to arrive from all over Europe and also from distant countries such as the USA, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Japan and South Africa.

The figures also indicate that a particularly diverse audience will come from countries such as Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, alongside less expected countries such as the Solomon Islands, Paraguay, and Sri Lanka. In total, 42% of tickets were purchased by audiences outside Austria, underscoring the competition's international expansion.

Germany and Great Britain rank second and third in ticket purchases, followed by Switzerland, the USA, France, Australia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Netherlands. Thousands of fans from the Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia are also expected to attend, alongside countries returning to the competition this year such as Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania.

Photo: EBU - Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision says that, during Eurovision Week, Vienna will become an international hub of music and culture, with events taking place across the city, from the main performances to fan complexes, public screenings and other cultural events. The competition production notes that a number of additional production tickets have recently been offered for sale, and these are the last tickets remaining.