Fact Check: "Eurovision 2026 will be hosted in Stockholm, Sweden"
What We Know
The claim that "Eurovision 2026 will be hosted in Stockholm, Sweden" is incorrect. According to Wikipedia, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is set to take place in Austria, following the country's victory at the 2025 contest. The event will be organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the host broadcaster, Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF). This will mark Austria's third time hosting the contest, with previous events held in Vienna in 1967 and 2015.
While Stockholm's Finance City Councillor, Karin Wanngård, has expressed that the city is open to hosting the contest if financial conditions are favorable, this is contingent upon various logistical challenges, including venue availability (ESCToday). Notably, both major venues in Stockholm, Avicii Arena and Strawberry Arena, are booked well in advance, which complicates the city's ability to host the event (Eurovision Fun).
Analysis
The assertion that Stockholm will host Eurovision 2026 lacks a factual basis as the official decision has already been made to hold the event in Austria. The information from Wikipedia is reliable as it is a widely recognized source for Eurovision-related information and is regularly updated.
Although there are discussions in Stockholm about the possibility of hosting the event, these are speculative and dependent on several factors, including financial viability and venue availability (ESCToday, Eurovision Fun). The city's interest does not equate to an official decision or confirmation of hosting. Furthermore, other Swedish cities like Malmö have already stated they will not bid to host the event (Eurovision Fun).
The credibility of the sources discussing Stockholm's interest is mixed. While local news outlets provide insights into the city's political discussions regarding hosting, they do not provide definitive information about the hosting decision, which has already been confirmed to be in Austria (ESCToday, Eurovision Fun). Therefore, while Stockholm's openness to hosting is noted, it does not change the fact that Austria is the confirmed host.
Conclusion
The claim that "Eurovision 2026 will be hosted in Stockholm, Sweden" is False. The official information confirms that Austria will host the event, and while Stockholm has expressed interest, it is not a confirmed host city. The logistical and financial challenges highlighted by city officials further complicate the feasibility of Stockholm hosting the event.
Sources
- Eurovision Song Contest 2026 - Wikipedia
- Sweden: Stockholm open to hosting Eurovision 2026
- Sweden: Malmö will not bid to host Eurovision 2026!
- Sweden: Stockholm Eyes Eurovision 2026 If KAJ Wins
- Fact Check: eurovision 2026 will be hosted in stockholm sweden
- Sweden: Stockholm Expresses Wish to Host Eurovision 2026
- Min Eurovision Song Contest 2026 - Our Eurovision
- Which Austrian city is most likely to host Eurovision 2026?