ORF officially revealed its Core Team—a mix of seasoned professionals, many of whom played pivotal roles in organizing the 2015 Contest in Vienna.
Following JJ’s unforgettable victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel with the haunting ballad Wasted Love, Austria is preparing to step back into the global spotlight.
The country’s public broadcaster, ORF, will host Eurovision 2026, and the building blocks for the event are already being set in motion.
Familiar Faces Return for a New Era
Spearheading the production is Michael Krön, ORF’s Chief Producer, who takes on the role of Executive Producer and overall project leader. Krön will represent ORF at the highest operational level, directly reporting to ORF management.
Joining him is Stefan Zechner, a long-standing figure in Austria’s Eurovision history. Zechner has led the Austrian delegations since 2011 and was the Show Producer for the 2015 edition in Vienna. His return signals a strong focus on consistency and institutional memory.
Stepping into the role of Head of Production is Daniel Hack, formerly the production economic manager of the ORF Multimedia Newsroom. Meanwhile, Christine Tichy, who served as Assistant Production Manager in 2015, will take on the role of Technical Manager, overseeing the event’s complex technical execution.
Roman Horacek—a familiar name to fans and press alike—returns as Head of Communications, a role he has embodied for the Austrian delegation since 2005 and again during Vienna 2015. Alongside him is Marketing Manager Iris Keutter, who was instrumental in Austria’s 2014 win and the ESC 2015 marketing and sponsorship efforts; she resumes her role for 2026.
The Event Manager for all off-air activities will be Oliver Lingens, whose responsibilities include ticketing, logistics for the Media Centre, delegation support, hospitality, side events, and security—building on his previous experience from 2015.
Internal organization will be managed by Christina Lassnig, supporting the Executive Producer as Executive Assistant, while Christina Heinzle-Conrad will act as Secretary General, serving as a liaison to the ORF General Directorate.
Rounding out the leadership is Martin Szerencsi, reprising his position as Legal Advisor. Known for his expertise in major TV productions, Szerencsi brings legal continuity and authority to the team.
Leadership Speaks: “Austria Can Be Proud”
The announcement was met with enthusiastic support from ORF leadership.
ORF Director General Roland Weißmann stated:
“With the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, ORF has taken on a mega-project, for which we have just under a year to implement. The existing know-how and ESC experience at ORF are invaluable. I am pleased that we have been able to assemble a team of experts who, under the leadership of Executive Producer Michael Krön, will make ESC 2026 an unforgettable event that all of Austria can be proud of.”
Programme Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz added:
“We will make ESC 2026 an on- and off-air event of the highest international standard for the whole family, showcasing our country at its best. I am excited about this challenge and wish Michael Krön and his entire team all the best.”
And from Michael Krön himself, a message of excitement and determination:
“It is a great honour and pleasure for me to implement the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria as Executive Producer. Of course, I am aware that this is one of the biggest and most challenging tasks in the media business. I am confident that as a team, with the combined strength of ORF, we will host an ESC that makes Austria proud and impresses the world.”
Host City Race Underway
The application deadline for the Eurovision 2026 Host City is set for 4 July, after which negotiations with the applicant cities will begin. ORF has confirmed that both the host city and event dates will be announced in August.
As the countdown to Austria’s second turn as host begins, one thing is certain: Eurovision 2026 is in the hands of a team that knows the contest inside and out—and plans to make it unforgettable.
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