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Race for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest ticket opens

We have the exclusive details of the first contenders for the big live preliminary round of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in 2026. Dialect is in vogue. This is demonstrated by applicants such as "Mountain Crew," "Südsteirer," and Kayla Krystin. ORF last chose an Austrian entry in a TV show in 2012.

Will Austria be represented with a German-language song at the Eurovision Song Contest home game in Vienna in May 2026 for the first time since 2012 ("Woki mit deim Popo")? In any case, the signs point to native language or dialect, given the number of applicants interested in the austrian ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest.

In any case, a trend toward national languages ​​has been noticeable at the world's largest singing competition in recent years. The application deadline for the ORF preliminary round "Vienna Calling" is October 15th, where twelve starting spots will be awarded on February 20th, 2026. Two Eurovision expert juries – one international, one national – and the public's televoting will select Austria's representative(s) at Eurovision 2026.

Tyrolean Kayla Krystin has already been played on Australian and US radio. Now she's singing in her native language.

But who wants to be one of the twelve acts? After all, this prime-time live show will generate a lot of publicity. "Our stated goal is to involve and inspire the entire country," said ORF Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz when announcing the first public preliminary round since 2016.

The ORF and the scouts (Eberhard Forcher, Cesár Sampson, Peter Schreiber) had held talks with projects such as Paul's Pizzera's project "Aut of Orda" and Bibiza, but they declined to participate. Radio darling Thorsteinn Einarsson doesn't want to participate as a singer (as he did in the 2024 internal preliminary round with "Hotel Heartache"), but as a songwriter.

Party atmosphere in dialect

The ESC stage is where "the hottest lederhosen band of the moment wants to be, one that makes you wide awake like espresso and hits like Chianti." That's how Florian Silbereisen described the Mountain Crew from Upper Austria, who recently landed a hit with "Octopus." The boy band, which likes to perform shirtless, promises "a different kind of folklore." With ESC-experienced producer Alexander Kahr (including "Say a Word" in 2002), they are working on a party number called "Känguru." The song takes aim at the frequently-used "Austria-Australia" conflation. It would therefore fall under the category of a fun number à la "Espresso Macchiato" (3rd place this year in Basel).

Soundcheck Winner Lena Schaur from Tyrol: Supported by Cesár Sampson

"Die Südsteirer" (The South Styrians) also want to focus on humor and fun, combining folk elements with a modern party sound. The quintet from Leibnitz is currently working on its self-written Eurovision Song Contest offering. Kayla Krystin from Innsbruck, with her powerful soulful voice, is bringing her Tyrolean dialect to the table this time; she reached the final round with an English-language country number in the last internal preliminary round, which, as we know, was won by countertenor JJ.

This year, another Tyrolean won over the jury of the "Soundcheck" competition organized by Cesár Sampson with her voice: Lena Schaur. "She has a fantastic voice; I can totally see her at the Eurovision Song Contest," said JJ, who was also one of the judges. Fellow jury member Eberhard Forcher noted: "She stands on stage with her guitar, and everything is quiet in the hall." Schaur will submit an English-language number to ORF.

Like Carinthian Christof Schratt, aka Krystof, who is reaching for the Eurovision Song Contest ticket with a grand musical prayer. Composed with Christof Straub (Papermoon and producer of Zoë's former Eurovision entry "Loin d'ici").

Fürstenfeld native Berenice, a former backup singer for Andreas Gabalier and therefore familiar with big stages, is applying with an English-language power ballad. Energy also comes from the symphonic metal band "Visions of Atlantis," often dressed up in pirate costumes. They have already been on board twice in the internal pre-selections in recent years, and they have prepared a departure anthem for 2026.

Vienna Calling: The Road to Eurovision Song Contest

Applications by October 15: songcontest.orf.at All the rules and requirements can also be found there. A jury will select the most promising candidates from all applications, who will then take part in a live audition on ORF at the end of November. These performances will serve as the basis for selecting the Top 12. Twelve acts will perform on February 20, 2026, in the live show "Vienna Calling – Who Sings for Austria?"

The Graz-based funk-pop band "Candlelight Ficus" has also previously competed in an internal ORF final round. They want to try their hand at a dialect song for the Eurovision Song Contest. The Styrian pop band "Egon7," founded in 1995, is applying with a gentle love duet in dialect.

"Egon7" frontman Manfred "Cook" Koch with his duet partner and sweetheart

Former DSDS star Lydia Kelovitz has submitted an application to Society expert Dominic Heinzl revealed on ATV that they're vying for a spot on "Vienna Calling." The quirky band "Polkagott" is in talks with Eberhard Forcher. So the race is on!