The Eurovision Song Contest is the world’s most watched music event. As Austria won the contest in 2025, the event took place in Vienna this year, from 19 to 23 May 2026. During the preliminary rounds and the final, the City of Vienna and Lord Mayor Michael Ludwig took the opportunity to foster international contacts.

The Lord Mayor also met with H.E. Ambassador Sebastian Prince of Schoenaich-Carolath, the Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Republic of Austria. As the Order of Malta’s relief organisations work closely with the City of Vienna – particularly the MALTESER Ordenshaus care home, the mobile care services of MALTESER Care and the rescue and ambulance services of the MALTESER Hospitaldienst Austria – the Order traditionally maintains good relations with the City of Vienna. Ambassador Schoenaich-Carolath commented: “Informal meetings and opportunities to exchange information are of particular importance to us. We greatly value our cooperation with the City of Vienna, and it is always a pleasure to see that this appreciation is mutual. We would therefore like to thank the Lord Mayor for his kind invitation in the course of the Eurovision Song Contest.”