Vienna tightens Eurovision safety
Organisers of Eurovision 2026 at Wiener Stadthalle will require fire‑safety certificates and permit only nonflammable flags after a deadly bar fire in Switzerland prompted stricter rules. The measures were reported as part of the event’s increased safety controls for 2026 (mezha.net).
Fans heading to Eurovision in Vienna next month will have to prove their flags are hard to ignite, under new fire-safety rules for the 2026 contest at Wiener Stadthalle. (swissinfo.ch) The European Broadcasting Union’s official event page says Vienna will host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest at Wiener Stadthalle, with semi-finals on May 12 and May 14 and the grand final on May 16, 2026. (eurovision.com) ORF, Austria’s public broadcaster and co-organiser, told dpa that fans bringing flags into the arena must show certificates proving they meet Austrian or European fire-safety standards. Oeticket, the official ticket seller, said the checks will happen at entry. (yahoo.com) The tighter controls follow the January 1, 2026 fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where 41 people died and more than 115 were injured. Swissinfo and dpa both said that disaster triggered stricter official guidance in Austria for crowded venues. (swissinfo.ch) (yahoo.com) That changes a familiar Eurovision ritual. Flags and banners are part of the crowd scene at every show, but this year organisers are steering fans toward venue-approved materials instead of whatever they packed at home. (aussievision.net) An email to ticket holders said every flag brought into Wiener Stadthalle must meet the Austrian standard ÖNORM B 3822 or the European classification DIN EN 13501-1. The same message said buyers should bring the certificate with them because staff may ask for it at the door. (aussievision.net) Organisers are also directing fans to the official Eurovision shop, which Aussievision reported will sell compliant flags produced locally in Vienna. The outlet said handheld flags start at €7.50 and larger flags at €13.50. (aussievision.net) The scale of the event helps explain the caution. Swissinfo, citing organisers, reported that roughly 90,000 tickets for the live shows and preview performances had been practically sold out since January. (swissinfo.ch) Vienna was confirmed as host city on August 20, 2025 after Austria won Eurovision 2025 in Basel with JJ’s “Wasted Love,” giving ORF the job of staging the contest for a third time in the capital. The official Eurovision site says 35 broadcasters will take part in this year’s edition. (tv.orf.at) (eurovision.com) For fans, the practical rule is simple: bring a certified flame-retardant flag, buy one at the venue, or expect to leave it outside. (yahoo.com)
