The 70th Eurovision Song Contest is all set to be an event for everyone.

Both Austrian broadcaster ORF and the city of Vienna have announced their commitment to ensuring full inclusivity and accessibility across all Eurovision-related events that are planned to take place as the world descends upon the country’s capital in May.

ORF has set out to send a message of inclusion for people with disabilities – everyone is welcome to enjoy the world’s biggest music event which the Austrian broadcaster is hosting, and this extends to its programming, services available at Vienna's Stadthalle and the city’s public viewing events.

At the venue in Vienna

For the Stadthalle spectacle on 12, 14 and 16 May, ORF will provide a comprehensive range of services for attendees to the venue: From song performances in ISL (international sign language) to vibration vests, and from a specially developed Accessify app to a complete offering of accessibility services (subtitling, audio description, and sign language interpretation).

Accessibility will be prioritised at all event venues. One element being made available is the AI-powered Plug & Play platform, Accessify. This will be available for deaf and blind attendees and accessible via smartphone. Services include audio description, sign language interpretation, speech-to-text conversion, and sound amplification via Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids.

To make music physically accessible to hearing-impaired attendees, vibration vests will be provided to Eurovision fans during the Live Shows. These special vests allow users to feel sound through vibrations on their skin. Additional on-site services for people with disabilities will be provided through a partnership with FullAccess, including information service points, staff training on disability awareness and support, and online resources.

The trailblazing approach to sign performance at Vienna 2015 continues for Vienna 2026

In January 2026, ORF held auditions for Sign Performers from the international deaf community at its media campus. Their task will be to perform the songs of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in International Sign. Since 2015, sign performance has been a part of the accessibility offering at the Eurovision Song Contest. As the first public broadcaster to produce sign performances of the songs back then, ORF played a key role in establishing this service.

A total of nine Sign Performers were selected after the multi-hour casting: Anja Burghardt (Linz), Alice Hu (Shanghai), Amanda Jovanovic (Vienna), Carina Kilinc (Vienna), David Obermaier (Graz), Inna Shparber (Berlin), Julia Kulda-Hroch (Berlin), Kateryna Radek (Bielefeld/Regensburg) and Rafel-Evitan Grombelka (Hamburg/Cologne).

The Sign Performers began their work on 31 January. They will participate in monthly training sessions and workshops, which will include close collaboration with the artists of Vienna 2026. At the end of April, production week will take place, during which all Sign Performances will be pre-recorded. The performances will be broadcast during the Semi-Finals and Grand Final on ORF 2 Europe and ORF ON, and will also be made available to all participating broadcasters for use on their accessible platforms.

Vienna 2026 Executive Producer Michael Krön:

“We want to make the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna accessible to everyone. This not only fulfills the public service mandate of ORF but also represents a commitment to what the Eurovision Song Contest has stood for throughout the decades: diversity, inclusion, and European cohesion.“

The barrier-free Host City

Vienna has played such a pioneering role in accessibility for people with disabilities that it was recognised in 2025 with the Access City Award. Anyone arriving into the city can head to Vienna Tourist Board’s Tourist Information Centres at Vienna Airport and at Albertinaplatz. Both are equipped with hearing loop systems, while tactile city maps are also available, as well as any other information that might be needed.

Vienna’s infrastructure is also being continuously improved. 100% of subway stations are accessible (excluding structural limitations), 95% of tram and bus stops are accessible, and 80% of traffic lights have audible signals for people who are blind or have low vision. Since 1991, accessible planning and construction has been codified in law. And in 2026, Vienna will also be the Host City of the National Special Olympics Summer Games.

The city has also put together a website specially dedicated to helping people with impaired accessibility to make the most out of their Vienna visit. At this hub, information is provided about accessibility to the city’s main sights, museums and even offers a guide to the most accessible hotels.