Vienna authorities and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have presented enhanced security measures ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. A ban on bringing bags and backpacks, along with mandatory passage through metal detector gates, aims to speed up entry and ensure audience protection. The plan was developed in response to record-breaking ticket sales exceeding 65,000 and aligns with standards for such large international events. Detailed information for the audience will be provided several weeks before the May competition at Wiener Stadthalle.
Bag and Backpack Ban
A complete ban on bringing bags and backpacks into the Wiener Stadthalle will be introduced. Only small, transparent document pouches with strictly specified dimensions will be permitted: 21 cm width, 15 cm height, and 5 cm depth.
Mandatory Gate Controls
Every person entering the event area – audience members, artists, delegation members, and technical staff – will be required to pass through metal detector gates. This aims to identify potentially dangerous items.
Reinforced Surveillance Around the Hall
The security plan includes increased police presence and expanded video monitoring not only within the Wiener Stadthalle area but also on its distant approaches, to ensure protection from the moment the audience arrives.
Record Ticket Sales
Ticket sales for the contest have already exceeded 65,000, necessitating the tightening of security measures and entry logistics to avoid delays and ensure smooth event operations for such a large number of participants.
Austrian authorities and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have presented a detailed and enhanced security plan for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2026, to be held in May at Vienna's Wiener Stadthalle. The central point of the new regulations, directly affecting the audience, will be a complete ban on bringing handbags, bags, and backpacks. The only permissible items will be small, transparent document pouches with maximum dimensions of 21x15x5 cm, which will also be subject to inspection. This decision has a dual purpose: speeding up the entry process for thousands of people and eliminating potential threats that could be concealed in luggage. Furthermore, all event participants – audience members, artists, delegation members, and technical staff – will be required to pass through metal detector gates. The Eurovision Song Contest, organized by the European Broadcasting Union since 1956, is one of the world's largest non-sporting television spectacles, attracting over 180 million viewers annually. Due to its scale and international character, it has long required advanced and costly security measures, especially in the context of contemporary terrorist threats. The tightening of measures is a response to record-breaking ticket sales for this stage of preparations, which have already exceeded 65,000. Organizers explain that such procedures are standard for large international mass events and serve to ensure the safety of both the thousands gathered on-site and the millions watching the broadcast worldwide. The comprehensive security plan was developed in close cooperation between the EBU and Austrian authorities, including the police, special services, and the venue management. It also includes reinforced police surveillance and monitoring around the Stadthalle, extending to the distant approaches to the hall. Detailed guidelines for ticket holders will be sent out several weeks before the start of the contest so the audience can prepare accordingly. Vienna, which last hosted Eurovision in 2015, is preparing to welcome delegations from dozens of countries and a global audience, emphasizing the efficient and safe execution of the entire undertaking.