Frank Rondel
Austria’s public broadcaster ORF has disclosed new details about the two semifinals and the grand final of Eurovision 2026, including interval acts and invited performers, reports customreceipt.com via Eurovision. The 70th anniversary edition of the contest will draw global audiences as Vienna hosts the landmark event.
The grand final, scheduled for Saturday, May 16, will open with a narrative element linked to JJ’s winning performance of the song Wasted Love in Basel. Viewers will learn that the symbolic paper boat from that performance was accidentally left behind in Switzerland. The object then travels along the Rhine and Danube rivers, crossing parts of the Eastern Alps before arriving in Vienna for the opening of Eurovision 2026.
The opening act, titled The Queen of the Night, will feature JJ showcasing the вокальні здібності that secured Austria’s victory in 2025. The performance will combine musical elements inspired by Mozart with JJ’s own material and will include more than 40 dancers and acrobats. At the same time, all 25 finalists will appear on the stage of Wiener Stadthalle.
During the televoting segment, three interval acts are planned. One of them, Celebration!, will bring together specially selected Eurovision stars performing iconic songs from the contest’s history as part of the 70th anniversary program. Following this, Austrian electro-swing artist Parov Stelar will present a large-scale visual performance. The interval program will conclude with a rendition of Vienna by Billy Joel, performed by Cesár Sampson, Austria’s Eurovision representative in Portugal, leading into the announcement of results.
ORF’s acting Director General Ingrid Thurnher stated that preparations are proceeding according to schedule as production moves toward the arena stage phase at Wiener Stadthalle. She noted that nine shows, including three live broadcasts, are planned to mark the anniversary of the world’s largest televised entertainment event.
The first semifinal, set for Tuesday, May 12, will begin with a time-travel themed segment emphasizing the contest’s 70-year history as a story of love. This will be illustrated through a film depicting the life of a couple against the backdrop of Eurovision. A 70-member choir will open the show with a tribute performance of L’amour est bleu, a song closely associated with Vienna’s first time hosting Eurovision in 1967.
An interval act titled Kangaroo will feature hosts Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski in a musical-comedic segment explaining how to distinguish Austria from Australia. They will be joined by Go-Jo, known as the Milkshake Man, who represented Australia at Eurovision 2025 in Basel.
The second semifinal will open with JJ performing a new song for television audiences. ORF’s Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz stated that the Vienna edition will combine Austrian culture with the diversity of Eurovision under the concept of a “big show,” expressing confidence that the anniversary event will engage viewers across Europe and beyond.
Additional segments prepared by ORF include Professor Eurovision, where an expert resembling host Victoria Swarovski will answer unconventional questions about the contest, and Eurovision Quiz, hosted by Michael Ostrowski, featuring unexpected clips from the previous 69 Eurovision editions.
A significant role in the grand final will also be played by the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, which contributed to the music production and will perform live on stage.
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