Responsibility for the overall security concept lies with the event organizer — in this case, the Austrian public broadcaster ORF. This concept has been developed with input from all relevant security partners, including not only the police but also emergency medical services, the fire brigade, and numerous other agencies.

For detailed questions about the ESC security concept, please contact the ORF here: http://presse.orf.at

Security responsibilities are divided between a private security service (inside the venue) and the police:

The ESC takes place primarily at the Wiener Stadthalle . As part of its security concept, the organizer (ORF) is responsible for venue security, which is handled by a contracted private security firm covering the interior of the venue (Wiener Stadthalle).

The police (as the public security authority) are responsible for public order and safety. For non-public spaces — such as private venues where events like the ESC are held — a private security provider must therefore also be engaged. The exception to this is criminal offences and emergency intervention, which always fall under the jurisdiction of the police.

Background: Unlike many neighbouring countries, Austria's police force is organized as a federal authority with nationwide jurisdiction — hence the name "Bundespolizei" (Federal Police). In addition to its central headquarters in Vienna (within the Ministry of the Interior), it operates through nine regional directorates, one per federal state. Since the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Vienna, the “Landespolizeidirektion Wien” (Vienna Police Directorate, LPD Wien) holds local authority.

Quote from General Dieter Csefan, Vice President of the Vienna Police Directorate:
“The security of this international major event is our top priority. An event of this magnitude – with tens of thousands of visitors each day, international delegations, and global attention – requires preparation that goes far beyond the usual level.”

The police operation for the Song Contest 2026 spans the entire city like an invisible safety net. Extensive preparations — both in coordination with our security partners and independently — have been underway for many months and will reach their peak during the contest week.

Local operational authority rests with the Vienna Police, while numerous departments within the Ministry of the Interior (BMI) are working together to monitor the security situation and plan accordingly. The units deployed include in particular:

1. Regular uniformed service — for public order policing and managing demonstrations/public assemblies
2. Criminal investigation service, at both the state and the federal level
3. State protection and counter-extremism, through the Landesamt Staatsschutz und Extremismusbekämpfung (Vienna Police) and the Directorate of State Protection and Intelligence (DSN) within the Ministry of the Interior
4. Special units of the Ministry of the Interior (Directorate of Special Units), most notably the Cobra counter-terrorism unit and drone defence, the Air Police including drone pilots, and the bomb disposal service
5. Special units of the Vienna State Police Directorate, in particular the WEGA rapid response unit, the police dog unit (including explosive detection dogs), the standby unit for public order duties, and specialist officers for explosives and hazardous materials
6. The Vienna Police Traffic Division, handling traffic management and control
7. Comprehensive cybersecurity structures linking the federal government, the City of Vienna, the Ministry of the Interior, and the event organiser

Several hundred additional officers will be deployed each day, with further support from colleagues in surrounding federal states. The Vienna Police operations center will be staffed 24/7 throughout the ESC to enable a swift and decisive response to any situation. Officers from both regular and specialist units will operate in uniform and in plain clothes — many units and capabilities will be active in the background or on standby, without a visible public presence.

Access points and individuals entering the venue were strictly screened up until the “lockdown” of the Stadthalle, including K9-checks with explosive detection canines. As a result, the security status of the Vienna Stadthalle has been classified as “ESTABLISHED” since the beginning of May, meaning: airport-like security protocols are in place.

Prevention is a key factor in ensuring security. Therefore, the security authorities have vetted approximately 16,000 individuals deployed at and around the ESC. Any suspicious findings are immediately reported to the organizer. The objective of these checks is to ensure that only reliable and verified persons are granted access to the event venue.

The Eurovision Song Contest is inherently a complex event to organize, and that complexity makes it a security challenge as well — one that demands careful planning and professional risk management. The current geopolitical tensions and resentments they generate add an extra layer of pressure across Europe, particularly at large-scale events.

In operational terms, the key challenges include:

• Traffic management across the city
• Crowd control at the venue and public viewing events
• Managing expected protest activity
• Protecting guests and delegations
• Continuously monitoring the security situation/risk assessment in real-time
• Close coordination with all partner agencies for comprehensive risk management

The Vienna Police and the Austrian Ministry of the Interior have extensive experience in hosting major events and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors — in no small part due to Vienna's role as host city to many international organizations.

There are three main venues: the Vienna Stadthalle as the primary event location, Rathausplatz where the “Village” will take place, and the “EUROCLUB” at the “Praterdome.” Enhanced security standards will apply in all of these areas.

The ESC Village at Rathausplatz is expected to host between 15,000 and 30,000 visitors, which will require a partial closure of the Ringstraße in that area. In addition, a number of side events and parallel activities will take place during the ESC peak week, including major sporting events such as the Vienna Derby and the Wings for Life Run, as well as public assemblies unrelated to the ESC.

Yes – to ensure a high level of public safety, three key measures are being prepared:

1. Security exclusion zone
   A security exclusion zone will be established in the immediate vicinity of the Stadthalle. Its purpose is to protect the thousands of event participants. Within this zone, police are authorized to remove individuals and enforce access restrictions. From the moment the order comes into effect, entry into the zone is legally permitted only for authorized persons. These include:
• emergency and security personnel
• delegations and artists
• fans / ticket holders
• ESC staff and on-site employees
• local residents
• individuals working within the restricted area
• accredited media representatives

A precise list of authorised persons can be found in the regulatory text (§ 2 lit. a to f), as can the exact locations covered by the exclusion zone and the applicable sanctions.

The exclusion zone was ordered by the Vienna State Police Directorate as the competent security authority. It comes into effect on the following dates:

• 12 May 2026 from 10:00 (until 13 May 2026, 03:00 at the latest). The regulatory text (German only) is available here: https://www.polizei.gv.at/lpd_docs/4411.pdf
• 16 May 2026 from 10:00 (until 17 May 2026, 03:00 at the latest). The regulatory text (German only) is available here: https://www.polizei.gv.at/lpd_docs/4415.pdf
2. Search orders
   For the three key locations—Stadthalle, Rathausplatz (ESC Village), and Praterdome—the Vienna Police Directorate will issue security search orders. The purpose is to prevent dangerous objects from being brought into these areas. All persons seeking access must consent to searches, which also extend to vehicles.

The regulations for the respective locations are available here (German only):

• Rathausplatz "Eurovision Village 2026"
• Praterdome "Euro Club"
• Wiener Stadthalle
3. Drone Restricted Airspace
   For the duration of the event, "UAS Geo Zones" will apply (UAS = Unmanned Aircraft System, commonly known as "drones"). This means that the use of all drones is strictly prohibited in certain areas, including in particular drones under 250 grams in weight that would otherwise be permitted.
• Geographical scope: A radius of 1.5 kilometres around the three hotspot locations — Stadthalle, Rathausplatz and Praterdome.
• Temporal scope: 10 May 2026, 00:00, to 17 May 2026, 04:00.

The geo zones were ordered by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure. Non-compliance will result not only in the deployment of police drone countermeasures, but also in severe penalties. The competent penalty authority is the Municipal Authority of the City of Vienna (Magistrat der Stadt Wien).

Further information can be found here: https://dronespace.at — the Austro Control drone platform .

4. Temporary road closures
   Additional temporary road closures will be implemented as necessary. This will specifically include the Vienna Ringstraße in the Rathausplatz area, which will be closed to individual traffic at least on the final day (16 May 2026). Up-to-date information on closures will be provided via official police channels on X (Twitter) and Bluesky.

Cybersecurity is a key focus both in the preparation for and the operational execution of the ESC. For the first time, a dedicated working group has been established for this area, comprising experts from multiple stakeholders, including the Ministry of the Interior (with various directorates), Vienna Police, the City of Vienna, ORF, and others.

Given the inherently international nature of cybersecurity, the Vienna Police are being supported by a dedicated task force from the U.S. federal agency FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). This cooperation enables faster and more efficient communication and operational coordination when required.

Quote from General Dieter Csefan, Vice President of the Vienna Police Directorate: “The security of the Song Contest and freedom of assembly are not in conflict with one another. Freedom of assembly is a fundamental pillar of our democracy, and we will ensure both its exercise and the safety of all those involved.”

Austrian assembly law gives everyone the right to express their views freely through public gatherings with minimal bureaucratic hurdles. There are very few restrictions on the form, location, or content of an assembly. A notification to the local authority 48 hours in advance is sufficient. Under Austrian law, no "permit" is required to hold a demonstration.

In Vienna, the LPD Wien (Vienna Police Directorate) serves simultaneously as security authority and assembly authority, and has extensive experience in the administration of public assemblies. Of the up to 15,000 assemblies held in Vienna per year, only a small number require a police escort or protection.

It is the explicit legal duty of the authorities to facilitate assemblies and to give due consideration to the right of assembly, unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary.

The ESC 2026 has already been accompanied by smaller demonstrations in recent weeks, all held peacefully and in accordance with the law. Registrations for demonstrations/assemblies have been received for the contest week, including the final day. This was anticipated from the outset of police planning and is subject to ongoing risk assessment.

The fundamental role of the authorities is to facilitate assemblies and protect the right to demonstrate/protest — that includes the ESC. However, demonstrations immediately adjacent to the venue will not be possible; alternative locations will be discussed with organizers in such cases.

However, the Vienna Police will intervene decisively if incidents occur during demonstrations or if the right to assembly is exploited for unlawful purposes.

Note for media:
As a neutral authority, the police do not comment on the identity of demonstration organizers, the content or topic of demonstrations, participant numbers, or specific locations and times of registered assemblies. An exception is made for information about demonstration routes, shared to assist in traffic planning. All other details should be obtained directly from the respective demonstration organizers.

The security situation — particularly with regard to terrorism — is assessed daily by analysts at the DSN (Directorate of State Protection and Intelligence). This assessment is a living document, continuously updated through the agency's own monitoring and through ongoing intelligence sharing with partner services worldwide.

Austria currently remains at elevated terror alert Level 4 on a five-point scale. This second-highest level has been in place since autumn 2023, reflecting the heightened security situation in the Middle East and the broader threat environment across Europe.

Level 4 indicates a general threat, but without any specific intelligence pointing to a concretely planned terrorist attack. This assessment applies equally to the ESC 2026.

There are no specific known attack plans in Austria. While a generally elevated alert level applies across Europe, daily life in Austria — both public and private — can and should continue as normal. The public does not need to take any special precautions or change their behavior in any way. This applies fully and without reservation to all visitors attending the ESC 2026 in Vienna and any parallel events.

That said, any suspicious observations should be reported to the police emergency number 133 without delay.