The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is set to begin in Vienna, Austria, within hours. This year, 35 acts will compete for the trophy, marking the third time the Austrian capital hosts the event, following 1967 and 2015. Austria secured hosting duties after JJ's win in Basel with "Wasted Love." Favorites this year include Finland, Greece, and Denmark. Over three nights, the contest is expected to attract more than 166 million viewers worldwide, with two Austrian public figures serving as hosts.
Who Is Victoria Swarovski?
Victoria Swarovski, 32, hails from Innsbruck. She is a pop singer, model, TV presenter, and heiress to the Swarovski luxury jewelry company. Her mother, Alexandra, is a journalist, and her father, Paul, works for the family business. As a teenager, she pursued a music career, signing with Sony Music at 16. Two years later, she moved to Los Angeles to work with Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren, known for hits like "Rhythm of the Night" and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." Her big break came in 2016 when she won the German dance competition "Let's Dance." That same year, she became the youngest judge on "Das Supertalent" and later co-hosted "Let's Dance." She also sang "There's a Place for Us" for the 2010 film "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Beyond TV, she runs her beauty brand ORIMEI and has modeled for magazines like Glamour, ELLE, and Forbes. From 2017 to 2022, she was married to real estate investor Werner Mürz, wearing a 46kg custom wedding dress with 500,000 Swarovski crystals. She now dates Mark Mateschitz, son of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who is worth an estimated $45.8 billion.
Who Is Michael Ostrowski?
Michael Ostrowski, 53, from Leoben, is an actor and screenwriter with over 40 film appearances. Initially a research fellow, he got his first role in a 2001 short film. Born Michael Stockinger, he changed his surname to avoid confusion with a cabaret performer. His breakthrough came in the 2004 film "Slugs," and he is known for comedic roles and writing screenplays.
Eurovision 2026 TV Schedule
The first semi-final airs tonight at 8pm on BBC One, with the second semi-final on Thursday at the same time. The Grand Final will be broadcast Saturday at 8pm. BBC coverage features Rylan and Angela Scanlon commentating the semi-finals, while Graham Norton hosts the final.
