With rehearsals beginning in Vienna this weekend, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and its Members are kicking off the Contest’s 70th anniversary with a year-long celebration of music, creativity and connection - powered by new digital experiences, standout events and major international expansion.

From opening up seven decades of history to fans, to launching the Contest’s first-ever expansion into Asia and delivering a landmark show in Vienna, the anniversary showcases the Eurovision Song Contest’s journey from a TV broadcasting experiment to a global phenomenon that continues to bring audiences together across borders.

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, with Semi-Finals on 12 and 14 May and the Grand Final on 16 May, bringing together 35 participating public service broadcasters from across Europe and beyond.

A new digital Eurovision experience

At the heart of the celebrations is a brand-new Eurovision website and app (eurovision.com), offering fans an enhanced and more interactive experience than ever before.

A major new feature is the Eurodex, a comprehensive archive available on eurovision.com and the official app, featuring results and information from every Eurovision Song Contest across its 70-year history. Fans can browse each year of the Contest and explore its history in depth, bringing seven decades of the world’s largest live music event to life in one place.

Fans can also engage directly with the Contest through My Scoreboard, allowing users to rank their favourite songs from this year’s competition as well as from every edition since 1956 and share their preferences with friends on social media.

By Your Side for 70 years

Commissioned by ORF to open the First Semi-Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, Life of Toni is a moving tribute to one fan whose life unfolds alongside the Contest itself.

From a young boy discovering Eurovision for the first time in 1956, we follow Toni through love, joy and loss - each chapter accompanied by the music and moments of Eurovision. As the years pass in his living room, the film shows how the Contest becomes a constant companion, bringing people together and soundtracking life’s most meaningful moments. In doing so, it captures why the Eurovision Song Contest has truly been “by your side” for 70 years.

The video will be used by EBU Members across Europe to promote the 70th anniversary. You can watch it here.

Introducing Eurofan: Bringing Fans Closer than Ever Before

A brand-new initiative that recognises the vital role fans have always played in shaping the Contest has also been launched – Eurofan.

Eurofan brings fans closer than ever before, offering exclusive content, ticket opportunities, experiences and collectibles. Crucially, it also creates new ways for fans to make their voice heard through Eurofan Voice, a dedicated fan initiative launching during the Contest period, giving audiences the opportunity to help shape the future of the Eurovision experience.

Eurofan is free to join at www.eurovision.com.

Expanding the Eurovision Song Contest universe

To mark the 70th milestone, the EBU has also launched a new official Eurovision Shop, offering a fresh range of merchandise inspired by the Contest’s iconic legacy and new brand identity launched for the 70th anniversary.

In addition, all Eurovision Song Contest winning performances are now available on the official YouTube channel, made possible with the support of EBU Members. This includes rare and historic footage such as the 1964 winning performance, restored from its archive by Yle in Finland. A global search has also been launched to find complete versions of both the 1964 show and the very first Eurovision Song Contest from 1956, currently missing from any archive.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Eurovision Song Contest will also be streamed live on YouTube in the United States, in addition to every other country worldwide*, expanding access to the world’s biggest music market and new audiences worldwide.

Celebrating 70 years of music, culture and technology

A new publication, “Eurovision Song Contest: Seven Decades of Glitz, Glamour and Unforgettable Performances”, released by BBC Books, offers a definitive look at the Contest’s history, most memorable moments and cultural impact.

The National Science and Media Museum in the British city of Bradford will also host “Setting the Stage: 70 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest”, opening on 15 May. The exhibition explores the technological innovation behind the Contest, from early broadcast breakthroughs to modern staging and audience interaction, alongside iconic artefacts and interactive experiences.

Global expansion

Looking to the future, the EBU has also announced the first new cross-continent edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, since its debut in 1956, with Eurovision Song Contest Asia launching in November 2026. Hosted in Bangkok, the inaugural event will bring together broadcasters from across the region, reaching a potential audience of over 600 million people and extending the Contest’s “United by Music” ethos to a new continent.

Martin Green CBE, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest at the EBU, said:

“As we celebrate 70 years of the Eurovision Song Contest, this is a moment to reflect on everything the Contest has achieved - and to look ahead to where it can go next.

“From an archival deep-dive and creating new digital experiences for fans, to expanding the Eurovision brand into new regions and delivering a spectacular show in Vienna, this anniversary is about celebrating the Contest’s unique ability to bring people together across borders and generations.

“At its heart, Eurovision is about joy - the shared joy of music, performance and connection - and in this milestone year we are proud to celebrate that spirit with audiences around the world, United by Music.”

Celebratory shows from EBU Members across Europe

Participating public broadcasters from more than 30 countries are marking the Eurovision Song Contest’s 70th anniversary with a diverse selection of dedicated programming, spanning documentaries, live companion shows, digital formats and special radio broadcasts.

As Host Broadcaster, ORF in Austria is leading the anniversary celebrations with an extensive schedule of programming including multiple editions of We Are Song Contest – The Show, alongside documentaries such as Unstoppable, building momentum throughout Eurovision week.

In Australia, SBS is airing a lineup of music specials including Rock Legends: ABBA, celebrating one of Eurovision’s most iconic success stories, while in Croatia, HRT is producing a two-part, 35-minute documentary exploring the history and cultural impact of the Contest. Germany’s ARD is marking the milestone with a 90-minute documentary, 70 Jahre ESC – More than Music, premiering on 8 May, while Israeli broadcaster Kan is also producing a dedicated documentary celebrating 70 years of Eurovision.

Digital innovation is also central to this milestone year. Norway’s NRK is engaging audiences with an interactive “ESC 70” online quiz alongside dedicated video content, while Sweden’s SVT is expanding its digital offering with Eurovision Klubben on SVT Play, complemented by the live Sverige Live talk show ahead of the Grand Final. Ukraine’s Suspilne is delivering extensive multi-platform coverage, including three studio pre-shows on its Kultura TV channel and Eurovision Ukraine YouTube channel, bringing audiences closer to the Contest across both broadcast and digital platforms.

In the United Kingdom, the BBC is marking the anniversary with a special broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday 16 May Your Ultimate Eurovision Superstar, hosted by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, celebrating iconic Eurovision performers and moments.

A spectacular show and city-wide celebration in Vienna

ORF and the City of Vienna are preparing a landmark edition of the Eurovision Song Contest under the theme “The Big Show!”, transforming Vienna into the global centre of music, entertainment and cultural exchange throughout Eurovision week.

95,000 ticket holders from 75 countries will be in the Wiener Stadthalle across the week of Previews and Live Shows which will celebrate Eurovision’s 70-year history with specially created opening and interval acts.

Highlights include a 70-piece choir performance paying tribute to Eurovision Song Contest classics, a Grand Final featuring reinterpretations of iconic songs from across the decades, and appearances from leading Austrian and international artists including Parov Stelar and Austria’s 2018 artist César Sampson.

A narrative thread running through the shows will connect past and present, from a cinematic opening sequence tracing the Contest’s evolution to performances that blend classical influences with contemporary pop, underlining Eurovision’s unique musical diversity.

Beyond the arena, Vienna will host a city-wide programme of cultural events and fan experiences, welcoming hundreds of thousands of fans. This includes a dedicated programme at the ORF RadioKulturhaus, featuring concerts, panel discussions and special performances reinterpreting Eurovision songs in new musical styles.

Vienna will host dedicated fan spaces across the city. Eurofan House, at the Wien Museum, will give superfans the chance to meet artists and take part in other events around the Contest. Traditional Viennese cafes across the city are being transformed into Eurofan Cafes, with each café hosting fans from participating countries, creating spaces for fans to come together, celebrate and enjoy traditional Viennese hospitality.

Norbert Kettner, CEO Vienna Tourist Board said:

"The 70th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest is a milestone worth celebrating – and Vienna knows how to celebrate. We proved that in 2015 when we hosted the 60th edition, and this time we intend to surpass even that. Vienna is a city that lives and breathes music, culture and connection – and for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, we will celebrate that in a way that is open to everyone and worthy of the platinum anniversary.

This year's Eurovision Song Contest will be visible in every corner of the city and it will showcase the city's strength as a cultural hub – from public screenings at the Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz to the Eurofan House at the Wien Museum where fans can engage with their favourite artists."

Last but not least, fans and visitors will also encounter Auri, the official Eurovision 2026 mascot, across the city, appearing at key moments throughout Eurovision week and in wider promotional activities, embodying the Contest’s spirit of creativity, connection and shared experience.

Together, these elements will ensure that the 70th Eurovision Song Contest is not only a world-class television event, but a multi-layered cultural celebration marking 70 years of being United by Music.

*except in the following participating countries: Australia, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom