🇸🇪 News from the HoD meeting

Today, there is some interesting news from the Head of Delegation meeting. This meeting took place today, and some decisions are made about the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest:

Iceland

It was a big questionmark whether Iceland was going to take part or not. Icelandic broadcaster RUV stated that they, together with the artist, would make a decision. Icelandic artists expressed serious concern about their country taking part in a contest with Israel being there.
The decision now made is that Iceland will take part. Big releave for singer Hera Björk, who now will for sure represent her country.

Marcus & Martinus

Always, the place for the host country gets drawn at the HoD meeting. So this time, it was decided where Sweden would perform in the final. And the result is: they will open it! In 1984, Sweden opened the show too and won. Is it an omen?

Big Five

For the very first time, the artists from the Big Five countries – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom – and host nation Sweden will each perform their entries in full live during the Semi-Finals. In other years, a part of the rehearsals was shown, but never the entire performance. Longer ago, even that didn’t happen and only a part of the video was shown.

The voting

A new feature for Malmö 2024 includes extending the timeframe for voting during the Grand Final.

Voting will start just before the first song is performed on Saturday, 11 May. This allows viewers to vote for the songs in real-time as they are being performed, a departure from the traditional method where voting commenced after all the entries were showcased. This approach was the standard since the introduction of public voting in 1997, with the exceptions of 2010 and 2011 when voting opened at the show’s start.

Moreover, fans from countries not competing (Rest of The World) will be given almost 24 hours to vote for their preferred songs before the start of each live show. For these international fans, online voting will be available right after the conclusion of the second dress rehearsal for each Semi-Final and the Grand Final, continuing until the commencement of the live broadcasts.

Related news

Eurovision 2026

Vienna Douze Points: Vienna during Eurovision 2026

  Many visitors come to Vienna for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Eventhough the city has so much more to offer beyond the shows and official events,  we’re focusing on Eurovision.  Vienna truly breathes the contest. Across the city — from public squares and museums to cafés and nightlife — the Eurovision atmosphere is everywhere, transforming Vienna into one large, city-wide festival. Eurovision Village Vienna 2026 – Rathausplatz The heart of the public celebration is the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz in Vienna. On Sunday, 10 May 2026, Rathausplatz becomes the stage for the official opening ceremony. All delegations will arrive via the iconic Turquoise Carpet, marking the ceremonial start of Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. Eurofan Café – “Kaffeehauskultur meets Eurovision” From 3 to 17 May 2026, Vienna’s famous coffeehouse culture gets a Eurovision twist. The Eurofan Café initiative, supported by Vienna coffeehouse owners, ORF and echo medienhaus, transforms traditional cafés into international fan meeting points. Visitors experience: Eurovision atmosphere in historic cafés Fan meetups across the city A blend of music culture and Viennese “Kaffeehauskultur” Tip: Rent a bike to explore multiple Eurofan Cafés across the city. EuroClub at PraterDOME From 11 to 16 May, the legendary PraterDOME becomes the official EuroClub Vienna 2026. Each night includes: Live performances by Eurovision artists DJ sets and themed parties Hosting by Eric Papilaya Live broadcasts of the Semi-Finals and Grand Final This is the main nightlife hub for Eurovision fans in Vienna. Eurofan House at Wien Museum The Wien Museum becomes the Eurofan House from 11 to 16 May. Highlights include: Free admission Artist interviews and panel talks Eurovision-themed guided tours Daily fan programming Note: No Bag Policy applies (cloakroom required). “United by Queerness” – QWien Exhibition The cultural centre QWien presents a special Eurovision exhibition exploring the contest from a queer historical perspective. Featured items include: Jean-Claude Pascal’s 1961 winner’s medal Conchita Wurst’s 2015 Vienna gown The iconic “Equality T-shirt” by Philipp Hansa This exhibition highlights Eurovision’s deep connection to LGBTQ+ history and identity. Eurovision at the Technisches Museum Wien The Technisches Museum Wien hosts a major Eurovision special programme starting 2 May 2026. Visitors can enjoy: Interactive media installations Eurovision karaoke in the TMW Lounge Sound studio workshops Continuous film screenings A must-visit for families and music technology fans. Photo: Wikimedia Commens Eurovision Watch Parties Across Vienna Didn’t manage to get tickets — or not for every show? No problem. Across Vienna, including the Eurovision Village, there are numerous unique venues where fans can watch the shows together in an unforgettable atmosphere. Across Vienna — from beach bars to breweries — fans can join public screenings of all shows, including: Semi-Finals Grand Final Community watch events at multiple venues The Eurovision Village itself will also host large-scale public viewing areas.   Final Note: Eurovision transforms Vienna During Eurovision Song Contest 2026, Vienna becomes more than a host city — it turns into a full cultural festival spread across cafés, museums, clubs and public squares. From Rathausplatz to PraterDOME, every corner of the city joins the celebration.

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Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

Vienna Douze Points: Vienna during Eurovision 2026

  Many visitors come to Vienna for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Eventhough the city has so much more to offer beyond the shows and official events,  we’re focusing on Eurovision.  Vienna truly breathes the contest. Across the city — from public squares and museums to cafés and nightlife — the Eurovision atmosphere is everywhere, transforming Vienna into one large, city-wide festival. Eurovision Village Vienna 2026 – Rathausplatz The heart of the public celebration is the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz in Vienna. On Sunday, 10 May 2026, Rathausplatz becomes the stage for the official opening ceremony. All delegations will arrive via the iconic Turquoise Carpet, marking the ceremonial start of Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. Eurofan Café – “Kaffeehauskultur meets Eurovision” From 3 to 17 May 2026, Vienna’s famous coffeehouse culture gets a Eurovision twist. The Eurofan Café initiative, supported by Vienna coffeehouse owners, ORF and echo medienhaus, transforms traditional cafés into international fan meeting points. Visitors experience: Eurovision atmosphere in historic cafés Fan meetups across the city A blend of music culture and Viennese “Kaffeehauskultur” Tip: Rent a bike to explore multiple Eurofan Cafés across the city. EuroClub at PraterDOME From 11 to 16 May, the legendary PraterDOME becomes the official EuroClub Vienna 2026. Each night includes: Live performances by Eurovision artists DJ sets and themed parties Hosting by Eric Papilaya Live broadcasts of the Semi-Finals and Grand Final This is the main nightlife hub for Eurovision fans in Vienna. Eurofan House at Wien Museum The Wien Museum becomes the Eurofan House from 11 to 16 May. Highlights include: Free admission Artist interviews and panel talks Eurovision-themed guided tours Daily fan programming Note: No Bag Policy applies (cloakroom required). “United by Queerness” – QWien Exhibition The cultural centre QWien presents a special Eurovision exhibition exploring the contest from a queer historical perspective. Featured items include: Jean-Claude Pascal’s 1961 winner’s medal Conchita Wurst’s 2015 Vienna gown The iconic “Equality T-shirt” by Philipp Hansa This exhibition highlights Eurovision’s deep connection to LGBTQ+ history and identity. Eurovision at the Technisches Museum Wien The Technisches Museum Wien hosts a major Eurovision special programme starting 2 May 2026. Visitors can enjoy: Interactive media installations Eurovision karaoke in the TMW Lounge Sound studio workshops Continuous film screenings A must-visit for families and music technology fans. Photo: Wikimedia Commens Eurovision Watch Parties Across Vienna Didn’t manage to get tickets — or not for every show? No problem. Across Vienna, including the Eurovision Village, there are numerous unique venues where fans can watch the shows together in an unforgettable atmosphere. Across Vienna — from beach bars to breweries — fans can join public screenings of all shows, including: Semi-Finals Grand Final Community watch events at multiple venues The Eurovision Village itself will also host large-scale public viewing areas.   Final Note: Eurovision transforms Vienna During Eurovision Song Contest 2026, Vienna becomes more than a host city — it turns into a full cultural festival spread across cafés, museums, clubs and public squares. From Rathausplatz to PraterDOME, every corner of the city joins the celebration.

Read More »
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