ORF, the Austrian national broadcaster, have revealed sustainable lighting, ahead of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, in Vienna.

The visual concept by internationally renowned lighting designer Tim Routledge will feature over 2,100 LED and laser units, as well as more than 8,500 individually controllable LEDs. Additionally, 80 high-speed cable winches will create movable light effects – a first in the world’s largest televised music event.

Lighting designer Tim Routledge emphasises that large visuals and sustainable production are not mutually exclusive: for the first time, a completely LED and laser-based system will be used, replacing traditional lighting completely and thereby significantly reducing energy consumption, heat and material usage. With a 100 per cent usage of modern, energy-saving technology, Vienna 2026 is setting new standards in sustainability.

The scale of the implementation will be grand. Hundreds of crew members will for several weeks be on site at the Stadthalle overseeing setup, programming and integration with video, automation and camera technology. A team of lighting programmers will work around the clock to coordinate each light signal precisely.

Tim Routledge, Lighting Designer for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, had the following to say:

“The Eurovision Song Contest is all about big moments. The challenge was to design something that appears impressive and large while being significantly more responsible behind the scenes. Using 100 per cent LED and laser technology on this scale shows that you can have both – spectacular visuals and sustainable production.”

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Author: Richard Taylor

Source: EBU & YouTube/EBU