Eurovision: JJ-mania and questions about 2026

Member countries consider the cost of participating

JJ, the winner of Eurovision 2025, was given a hero’s return in Austria. Receptions at Vienna airport and other locations provided an opportunity for him to - again – thank everyone for “making his dream come true” and also for the Austrian TV company ORF to start talking about 2026.

Referring to the song title, ORF Director General Roland Weißmann set the tone: “This love was not wasted; it reached all of Europe and was impressively returned. The work begins immediately, as does the excitement surrounding this event.” A TV special about JJ has been prepared.

1.1 billion viewers

The town of Vienna has already said that it is eager to host the next edition. But other cities will first be consulted

An astounding 1,135 million viewers watched the Eurovision Song Contest at its peak. In Austria, the peak viewing share was 63% - the most watched edition since the country hosted it in 2015.

In other countries, there has been something of a hangover. True to previous years, the social media comments from France and the UK have been very harsh about their contestants  - unfairly so, it must be said.

Australia: questioning ongoing commitment

Commentators in Australia have been questioning their ongoing commitment, given the disappointing result of Go-Jo this year. This is balanced by comments from Australia’s 2016 contestant Dami In: "I don't think there were any other performances in my life, before or since, that have been that intense."

"It impacted me on a huge level, like so dramatically. I would say there was me before Eurovision and me after Eurovision. The two Damis are very different to me."

(Michael Leahy. Sources: Eurovoix and ABC Australia. Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU)