EUROVISIONS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
9th edition
EUROVISIONS 2026: international conference returns during Eurovision week to reflect on the public value of media
The 9th edition of the international EUROVISIONS conference will take place on 12–13 May 2026 in Vienna, Austria, bringing together researchers, industry professionals, and fans to discuss the cultural, social, and media impact of the Eurovision Song Contest. The event will be held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online participation, and is free to attend. Organised annually since 2018, EUROVISIONS takes place in the host city and during the same week as the Eurovision Song Contest, establishing itself as a unique meeting point between academia and wider audiences around one of Europe’s most significant media phenomena.
The conference is jointly organised by the Institute of Ethnomusicology – Centre for Studies in Music and Dance (INET-md) at the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, NOVA University Lisbon, the Center for World Music (Germany), University College Maastricht (the Netherlands), and Goldsmiths, University of London (UK), reflecting a well-established international collaboration between leading institutions in the fields of music and media.
Marking the 70th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest, this edition invites reflection on the concept of “public value” in a context shaped by digital transformation, media fragmentation, and increasing political challenges facing public service media. Key themes include:
- Eurovision as a space for participation, representation, and belonging;
- technological transformations, from analogue television to streaming and immersive experiences;
- contemporary challenges faced by European public service media;
- political, social, and cultural tensions reflected in the contest.
The programme features keynotes, roundtables, and panel discussions, bringing together experts from a wide range of disciplines. One of the highlights will be the established EUROVISIONS Science Slam, which offers a platform for early-career researchers to present their work in a creative and accessible way, promoting new forms of science communication.
The conference will take place at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw), reinforcing the connection between research, artistic practice, and critical reflection in a European context.
EUROVISIONS continues to position itself as an international platform connecting researchers, industry professionals, and diverse audiences, fostering an open, inclusive, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of Eurovision and contemporary media culture.
Practical information:
Dates: 12–13 May 2026
Location: Vienna, Austria (mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna)
Format: In-person and online (YouTube and Facebook)
Admission: Free
This event was financed by national funds through FCT — Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., with the project INET-md – Institute of Ethnomusicology – Centre for Studies in Music and Dance, reference UID/00472/2025, DOI: 10.54499/UID/00472/2025.”