Austria: Over 400 Songs Submitted For “Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich”

Austria will select its Eurovision 2026 entry via a national selection, for the first time since 2016.
The selection show will be “Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich”

The submission window has closed recently, and Eberhard Forcher, a member of ORF’s Eurovision Scout Team, has revealed more details.
This year, he was joined by Peter Schreiber and Cesár Sampson (who represented Austria in Eurovision 2018).

Over 400 songs were submitted to the national selection. Around two-thirds of them are submitted in German or dialect. Some of the performers behind the songs are well-known artists.
The professional committee will evaluate the submitted songs. 24 artists will be invited to a live audition in front of the professional committee, and 12 of them will proceed to the national final.

Potential Artists

Based on the Austrian media and especially Klein, some names of potential artists have been mentioned:

Berenice – The singer submitted a powerful ballad in English
Krystof – The singer submitted a song, composed by Christof Straub (Austria Eurovision 2016 composer)
Visions of Atlantis – A metal symphonic band. They have already competed in 2 internal selections in the past.
Candlelight Ficus – A punk band. They have already competed in an internal selection in the past.
Lena Schaur – The winner of “Soundcheck 2025” (music reality show in Austria).
Die Südsteirer – The band suggests a fusion of folk and entertaining music.
The Mountain Crew – A Schlager band, that combines entertaining music with European beats
Lydia Kelovitz – The singer competed in the German Pop Idol in 2020.
POLKAGOTT – A synth-folk band
Egon7 – A pop band

“Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich” – Known Details

The final will be held on Friday, February 20th, 2026.
12 artists will compete in the national final.
The results will be based on a combination of jury vote and public vote.
There’s no language restriction.
Alice Tumler (one of Eurovision 2015 hosts) will host the national selection

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ORF Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz commented:

“The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna is the largest event to be held in Austria next year. Our stated goal is to involve and inspire the entire country. Now that the question of where the Eurovision Song Contest will take place has been clarified, it’s time to decide who will represent Austria. We want to make this decision together with our audience – everyone can have their say, and all artists can apply to participate starting now.”