Vienna, May 13, 2026
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The hosts of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, Michael Ostrowski and Victoria Swarovski, completed their first major appearance at Vienna's Stadthalle in front of a global audience of 180 million viewers.
Mixed Reactions to Hosting and Program
The two hosts appeared relaxed during a pre-show press conference. "It's just a show," Ostrowski emphasized, while Swarovski described the challenge as a "marathon." However, not all elements resonated equally with the audience.
One particularly controversial segment was the so-called "musical" about the contrasts between Austria and Australia. "It was delightfully bizarre in itself, but for eight minutes (!) as dull and empty as the pouch of the participating kangaroo," commented some TV critics. Swedish television even warned: "There is now a real risk that five more countries will drop out next year."