It’s been 10 days since the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final and honestly…we are still recovering. The post- Eurovision blues are very real (yes, Post Eurovision Depression absolutely exists!).
This year was incredibly special for us at ESCHeartbeats because it was our first time attending Eurovision together as accredited press. Â From running around the media center creating content, to partying at the Euroclub until the early hours, Vienna truly gave us an unforgettable Eurovision adventure.
So, grab your flags and glitter – let’s relieve our Eurovision week together!
How we got there:
We travelled to Vienna on the Saturday 9th of May, flying directly from Manchester. We stayed near Praterstern, which turned out to be the perfect location because we were 10 minute walk from the Euroclub and we could easily get everywhere using Vienna’s excellent trams and metro system.
Euroclub – The Heart of the Party:
Since we’ve already mentioned it, let’s start with the legendary Euroclub!
The Euroclub was hosted at the iconic Prater Dome– and what a venue it was. Huge, colourful, chaotic in the best possible way, and completely taken over by Eurovision music for the entire week.
The club had 3 different rooms:
• the main room featured a stage where many artists made an appearance throughout the week, such as Erika Vikman, Go-Jo, Abor & Tynna, Efendi, Parg and many more!
• the second room had more of a pub atmosphere – but with a dance floor, because this is Eurovision after all.
• the third room upstairs was smaller and much calmer, making it the perfect escape whenever the main room became packed.
There was also a central seating area where you could recharge with a drink, pizza or baguettes before heading back into the madness.
That’s also where we watched all the live shows! For the two semi-finals we wisely sat down to conserve energy… but for the grand final? Standing in the middle of the main room, singing every song at full volume. There was no other option.
Eurovision village and Turquoise Carpet:
The Eurovision village was held at Vienna’s beautiful Rathausplatz and was free to enter! There was a main stage which hosted performances from this year’s artists and Eurovision legends alike. We managed to see Lordi, Tommy Cash and Erika Vikman perform there! There were many food stands offering Viennese and international cuisine, and many fan activities such as karaoke, photo booths and even easyjet catwalk moments.
The Village also hosted the iconic Turquoise Carpet ceremony. Artists made their way from the Burgtheater towards the Rathaus (City Hall) before entering the media area, where journalists and content creators could interview them. We were in the media zone and we managed to do our tarot card reading to many artists! There is a video on our Youtube channel with all the tarot readings so make sure you check it out if you haven’t already!
The arena and media center:
The contest itself was hosted at Wiener Stadthalle, around 40 minutes away from where we were staying by tram. We visited the arena 4 different times during the week to work from the media center, create content, attend rehearsals and meet other journalists and creators! The media center was huge and had such a lovely atmosphere. There were endless desks, coffee, snacks and people everywhere working on interviews, articles, videos, and livestreams. It genuinely felt like Eurovision headquarters.
We also had some surreal encounters there — meeting the official mascot Auri and members of Lordi, attending press conferences, and getting the chance to meet hosts and organisers.
It quickly became our favourite place in Vienna.
And then there was the arena itself…
The stage was absolutely magical in person. No photo or TV shot could truly capture how impressive it looked live. We especially loved how the green room was designed as a traditional Viennese coffee house — such a clever and elegant touch that perfectly matched the city’s culture.
The entire production felt cinematic.
Eurofans House and Eurovision Cruise:
Another highlight of our Eurovision week was visiting the Eurofans House, organised by Wiwibloggs at the Wien Museum. It was such a fun opportunity for fans to get closer to this year’s artists through interview panels, live performances, and photo opportunities.
We attended the sessions with Antigoni and Dara, and both were fantastic. It was really interesting hearing them talk more personally about their journeys as artists, the meaning behind their songs, and their Eurovision experiences. The atmosphere felt very intimate and relaxed, making it one of the most special fan experiences of the week.
And then there was the Eurovision Cruise…Yes — a three-hour Eurovision party on a boat sailing across the Danube River. What more could anyone possibly want?
With nonstop Eurovision hits blasting from the DJ deck, fans singing along from every corner of the boat, and Vienna glowing in the evening light around us, it genuinely felt like a Eurovision fever dream. Whether you were dancing, waving flags, or dramatically performing your favourite Eurovision ballads on the deck, the energy was absolutely unmatched. Definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences of the entire trip.
Press events and Delegation Parties:
One of the biggest perks of attending as press was getting invited to special events throughout the week.
The first was Malta’s press event, where Aidan performed tracks from his upcoming album — including a jazz version of his Eurovision entry Bella.
There were themed cocktails, Maltese snacks and lots of photo probs! We even took a picture with Aidan and before leaving we were gifted traditional Maltese treats and a rose.
The next day we attended the Cypriot delegation party at the Cyprus ambassador’s residency. That’s where we met Antigoni for the first time, and she was lovely! We also met Cypriot journalist Christiana Artemiou who we’ve genuinely admired since childhood. Even more surreal? She invited us onto her show Pame Parea, where we spoke about our Eurovision blog and journey. Safe to say… we were completely starstruck.
Eurovision Cafés Around Vienna:
One of the cutest ideas this year was the Eurovision-themed cafés spread around the city. Different coffee shops were paired with participating countries and transformed into mini cultural hubs serving themed food and drinks.
Cyprus shared a café with Sweden at the famous Café Mozart, which instantly became one of our favourite stops during the week.
We also visited Australia’s Eurovision café, where we tried a kangaroo burger (Evi did!), tried an Australian IPA (I did!) and participated at a Eurovision quiz where we finished 6th. Painfully close to Eurovision glory.
Final Thoughts:
Eurovision in Vienna was everything we dreamed of and more.
From meeting artists and attending press events, to screaming Eurovision songs at 3am in Euroclub surrounded by fans from every corner of Europe — the entire week felt magical.
More than anything, Eurovision reminded us why we love this contest so much. It’s not just about the songs. It’s about the people, the community, the chaos, the friendships, and those unforgettable moments that only Eurovision can create.
And honestly?
We’d do it all again tomorrow- or maybe next year in Blugaria! See you then.
