The search for Austria’s entry for the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is underway.
The Merci, Chérie podcast has reported that the search is underway for Austria’s next entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. ORF is accepting song submissions for the contest up until September 15, with the search once again being headed by Eberhard Forcher and Peter Schreiber.
It has not yet been determined by ORF whether they will internally select their entry or whether a televised national selection will be held. ORF has not organised a televised selection for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2016, but has opened the possibility as the broadcaster looks at ways to embed Eurovision into its programming next year.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is set to be held in Austria following the victory of JJ with “Wasted Love”. Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest for a third time, having won the 1966 and 2014 editions of the competition. Austria received 12 points from eight juries; Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
Image source: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU | Source: Merci, Chérie
Austria debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957. Bob Martin represented the country on their debut but finished in last place scoring just 3 points. Austria has won the contest three times, the first being in 1966 when Udo Jürgens performed “Merci, Cherie”. It was 48 years later when Austria won again in 2014, when Conchita Wurst performed “Rise Like a Phoenix”, scoring a total of 290 points. Austria’s third win came in 2025, when JJ sang “Wasted Love” and scored 436 points.
