Vienna will officially kick off the Eurovision 2026 year with the activation of the Eurovision Countdown Clock on New Year’s Day. According to an announcement by the City of Vienna, the countdown to the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will begin at midnight on 1 January 2026.
The initiative is part of the city’s New Year’s celebrations and marks the official start of Vienna’s preparation period as the Host City of the contest.
Launch of the Eurovision Countdown Clock on New Year’s Day
The Eurovision Countdown Clock will consist of a large-scale LED installation, which will be placed along the Ringstrasse and will be visible from Rathausplatz. From the moment it is activated, the countdown will run continuously, measuring the time remaining until the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final, scheduled for 16 May 2026.
The installation will remain in operation until the conclusion of the contest and will accompany the city’s activities in the context of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest.
Eurovision featured in the Wiener Silvesterpfad programme
Eurovision will also feature in the cultural programme of the Wiener Silvesterpfad, Vienna’s annual New Year’s celebrations. On the main stage at Rathausplatz, the production “Best of Eurovision” will be presented, featuring live performances of songs from the history of the contest, accompanied by a live band.
At the turn of the year, a joint countdown will be shown on all Silvesterpfad stages, linking the arrival of the new year with the start of the countdown to Eurovision 2026. According to organisers’ estimates, around 800,000 visitors are expected to attend the celebrations in the city centre.
Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in Vienna following Austria’s victory at the 2025 contest in Basel, with JJ and the song “Wasted Love”.
So far, 35 countries have confirmed their participation. The two semi-finals are scheduled for 12 and 14 May, while the Grand Final will be held on 16 May 2026. The contest will be hosted at the Wiener Stadthalle, which previously hosted Eurovision in 2015 and has a capacity of up to 16,000 spectators.
Source: Stadt Wien
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