The 70th Eurovision Song Contest: Logistics and Political Issues in Vienna

May 6, 2026, 19:30
AustraliaEntertainment

Introduction

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, from May 12 to May 16, 2026, after the artist JJ won the competition last year.

Main Body

The event will be held at the Wiener Stadthalle with 35 countries participating. There are two semi-finals on May 12 and 14, followed by the Grand Final on May 16. Austria and the 'Big Five' (Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain) usually qualify automatically, although Spain has decided to withdraw. Other notable artists include Delta Goodrem from Australia and Sarah Engels from Germany. Political tensions have caused five countries—Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland—to leave the contest. They disagree with the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) decision to allow Israel to compete during the conflict in Gaza. Furthermore, the 2025 winner, Nemo, returned their trophy in protest. Consequently, Vienna police are treating the event as a high-security risk, using airport-style security checks and working with the U.S. FBI to prevent cyberattacks and protests on May 15. Finally, the EBU has introduced new rules for 2026. There are now stricter limits on promotional activities to prevent government-led campaigns. Additionally, the voting system has changed: the number of public votes per category has dropped from 20 to 10, while professional juries have grown from five to seven members. To ensure a younger perspective, at least two jury members must be between 18 and 25 years old.

Conclusion

Despite the strong political tensions and strict security measures in Vienna, the contest remains a major cultural event.

Learning

🚀 Level Up: The Power of 'Connectors'

At the A2 level, students usually write short, simple sentences like: "Spain left the contest. They disagree with the EBU."

To reach B2, you need to glue your ideas together using Logical Connectors. These words tell the reader how two ideas are related (cause, contrast, or addition).

🛠 The B2 Toolbox (from the text)

ConnectorWhat it doesExample from Article
AlthoughShows a surprise or contrast"...although Spain has decided to withdraw."
FurthermoreAdds more important information"Furthermore, the 2025 winner, Nemo, returned their trophy..."
ConsequentlyShows the result of an action"Consequently, Vienna police are treating the event as a high-security risk..."
AdditionallyAdds another point to a list"Additionally, the voting system has changed..."

💡 Pro-Tip for Fluency

Don't just use "and" or "but." If you want to sound like a B2 speaker, replace them:

  • Instead of "But" →\rightarrow use "Although" or "Despite".
  • Instead of "And" →\rightarrow use "Furthermore" or "Additionally".
  • Instead of "So" →\rightarrow use "Consequently".

🔍 Contrast Analysis

Look at the conclusion: "Despite the strong political tensions... the contest remains a major cultural event."

A2 Style: There are political tensions, but the contest is still important. B2 Style: Despite the tensions, the contest remains important.

The B2 version is more professional because it uses a complex sentence structure to balance two opposite ideas.

Vocabulary Learning

logistics (n.)
The detailed planning and organization of resources and activities.
Example:The organizers focused on the logistics of transporting the stage equipment across Europe.
political (adj.)
Relating to politics or government affairs.
Example:The event faced political challenges due to the ongoing conflict.
tensions (n.)
Feelings of nervousness or strain between people or groups.
Example:Tensions rose when the countries announced their withdrawal.
withdraw (v.)
To remove oneself or something from participation.
Example:Spain decided to withdraw from the contest.
disagree (v.)
To hold a different opinion.
Example:The countries disagreed with the decision to allow Israel to compete.
conflict (n.)
A serious disagreement or argument.
Example:The conflict in Gaza influenced the contest’s rules.
protest (v.)
To express objection.
Example:The winner returned the trophy in protest.
high-security (adj.)
Requiring strict safety measures.
Example:The venue was treated as a high-security risk.
airport-style (adj.)
Similar to the security procedures at airports.
Example:Attendees underwent airport-style security checks.
cyberattacks (n.)
Malicious attempts to damage computer systems.
Example:The police worked with the FBI to prevent cyberattacks.
promotional (adj.)
Related to advertising or marketing.
Example:New rules limit promotional activities.
government-led (adj.)
Directed or organized by a government.
Example:The campaign was government-led.
voting (n.)
The act of choosing or deciding.
Example:The voting system was revised.
perspective (n.)
A particular point of view.
Example:A younger perspective was encouraged in the jury.
juries (n.)
Groups of experts who judge.
Example:Professional juries were expanded.
limit (n.)
A restriction or boundary.
Example:The new limit on promotional activities was stricter.
campaign (n.)
An organized series of actions to achieve a goal.
Example:The government-led campaign aimed to increase participation.
automatic (adj.)
Happening without human intervention.
Example:Austria qualifies automatically.
participate (v.)
To take part in an event.
Example:Thirty-five countries will participate.
semi-finals (n.)
Preliminary rounds before the final.
Example:Two semi-finals will be held on May 12 and 14.