Eurovision 2026: Stage design unveiled !

Eurovision 2026: Stage design unveiled !
Tuesday, 16 December 2025

  • The Austrian Eurovision 2026 host broadcaster, ORF, has revealed the stage design of the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. 

    Good morming Europe! This is Vienna calling and stage design habemus! The hosting broadcaster of the next Eurovision, ORF has revealed the stage design of Eurovision 2026 releasing images of how it will look like and unveiling the story behind the set up. 

    The man behind the design

    Vienna is playing safe on the stage design for Eurovision 2026 and assigned the work to experienced Florian Wieder.

    The stage design for Eurovision 2026 is a work of Florian Wieder, taking care of this matter for a 10h time in the contest's history. Wieder is no stranger to the Eurovision family as he has been behind the ESC stage in 9 previous editions ( 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (2021), 2024 and 2025. Also his experience on such constructions is wide as he has been repsonsible for several mega music events such as American Idol, The Emmys and the MTV Music Awards and recently at Adele's concerts in Munich. 

    The stage designer stated on his new work: 

    The Eurovision Song Contest offers a unique opportunity: not to repeat what already exists, but to transform it, reinterpret it, and develop it further.I see it as an invitation to break with established patterns, to be bold, to create unique visuals, and to lead the audience into an experience that both retains the DNA of the ESC and is radically new.

    The story behind the stage set up

    The Viennese Secession is the source of inspiration of the stage design for the next Eurovoision   featuring the leaf, the curved line and the construct.

    ESC 2026 stage 2photo credit: EBU/ORF

    According to the official press released shared by EBU the story behind the stage set up has as following: 

    The creative spirit of the Viennese Secession lies at the centre of the stage-design concept. And like that art movement once did, ORF’s production wants to deliberately break conventions and allow new forms. It’s about courage for renewal, openness to radical creativity and a new freedom of design.

    Three design leitmotifs will convey this idea to viewers of Vienna 2026 in May:

    The Leaf
    A symbol of origin and potential, it stands for new beginnings and shared design. Diverse music from all over Europe is written on it.

     

    The Curved Line
    An expression of resonance, development and musical movement, it embodies connection, emotion and Viennese charm.

     

    The Construct
    A golden structure that connects art with functionality, it creates order, supports artistic vision and forms a deliberate contrast to the organic curved line.

    In the connection of these elements, a stage design emerges that both preserves the DNA of the Eurovision Song Contest and breaks new creative ground.

    The Green Room will be directly connected to the stage via a walkway – which, among other things, will enable a Winner’s Walk through the audience.

     ESC 2026 stage 3photo credit: EBU/ORF

    In addition ORF's Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz (ORF Program Director) stated:

    This stage perfectly embodies what the ORF stands for: creative innovation, cultural roots, and the highest technical quality. It combines the Austrian soul with international ambition and creates a space where grand visuals can be created without losing sight of the human moments. This design is bold, elegant, and embodies Austrian character – making it the perfect stage for a Eurovision Song Contest in the heart of Europe.

     

    For more images in motion of the Eurovision 2026 stage take a look at the official video released: 

     

    The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place  on 12, 14 and 16 May at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria.

     

    News source: EBU/ORF/ ESCtoday

    Photo cover: EBU/ORF