Making Eurovision more accessible: live, simple and scalable.
At Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Accessify enabled audiences in the arena, at Eurovision Village and across public viewings to access live audio, transcription, translation, audio description and sign language directly on their smartphones, with no app, no registration and no additional hardware.
Audio description
Live audio (ORF)
Live audio English translation (ORF)
Sign language / Sign performance
Accessibility, holistically conceived.
From the main event to the regions. One solution, many users.
Public viewing · Dornbirn
Accessibility at scale across multiple live environments
Accessify was deployed across three Eurovision environments: Wiener Stadthalle, Eurovision Village at Rathausplatz and Public Viewing locations across Austria. The service made accessibility content instantly available to visitors via QR code, directly on their own smartphones. The setup supported different needs and use cases, including people using hearing aids, visitors relying on live transcription or translation, blind and visually impaired visitors using audio description, and deaf visitors accessing Austrian Sign Language and sign performance where available.
Front Row For Everyone
Without an app, without extra hardware, without barriers.
> 800 unique devices, up to 1,600 estimated interactions
The reported figures are based on unique IPs / distinct devices, providing a conservative baseline of audience reach. Since visitors could access Accessify multiple times, across different shows, days or locations, the actual number of interactions was likely higher. Applying a cautious event-use multiplier of 1.5–2.0x, the Eurovision deployment generated an estimated 1,200–1,600 interactions. The results confirmed the relevance of Accessify for audiences with specific accessibility needs and highlighted the importance of strong on-site communication.
Measured reach
Based on unique IPs / distinct devices
Estimated total usage
Based on a cautious 1.5–2.0x event-use multiplier
Wiener Stadthalle
Main venue / broadcast environment
> 500–660 estimated interactions
- > 250Live audio · hearing aids · transcript · translation
- > 50Audio description
- > 30Sign language
Rathausplatz
Fan Village
> 420–560 estimated interactions
- > 230Live audio · hearing aids · transcript · translation
- > 30Audio description
- > 20Sign language
Public Viewings
Distributed public viewing locations
> 240–320 estimated interactions
- > 100Live audio · hearing aids · transcript · translation
- > 50Audio description
- > 10Sign language
Rounded figures based on access data. Estimated interactions apply a cautious 1.5–2.0x multiplier to reflect repeated usage across shows, days and locations. Accesses may also have been made by people without impairments. However, for understandable reasons, we cannot report these separately.
"With Accessify.live we are setting an important benchmark for inclusion at large-scale events at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, and not only inside the arena, but well beyond it. Whether hearing support, audio description, real-time translation or Austrian Sign Language: these accessible services are also available at public viewings, so even more people can experience the Song Contest together. Thanks to the subtitles in the Accessify app, including in English, international guests and people without German skills can also follow the event live and barrier-free. Using today's technology to make events more inclusive and accessible to the widest possible audience is a matter close to our hearts."
Michael Krön
ESC Executive Producer, ORF
Source: Accessify press release, May 2026
One QR code. Multiple accessibility services.
Accessify gives audiences direct access to live accessibility channels on their own smartphones. The service can be used in arenas, fan zones, public viewings and distributed event locations. It is designed to be simple for audiences, scalable for organisers and compatible with existing broadcast and event production workflows.
Live arena / event audio
Audio for hearing aids
Real-time transcription
Live translation
Audio description
Austrian Sign Language & sign performance
Smartphone-based access
No app · no registration · no hardware
Built for arenas, fan zones and public viewing networks
Wiener Stadthalle (Main Venue/Broadcast)
Large-scale indoor arena environment with live show conditions and high audience density.
Eurovision Village · Rathausplatz
Open public event environment with diverse audience flows and high visibility.
Public Viewings
Distributed locations where scalable access and simple QR-based onboarding are essential.
Accessibility only creates impact when people can actually access it.
The Eurovision deployment showed that accessible live content can be delivered across very different environments with one simple user journey: scan a QR code and choose the channel you need. The reported usage reflects both the audience groups with specific accessibility needs and the effectiveness of local communication measures such as on-site promotion, screens, signage and staff awareness.
The final step is visibility: QR placement, timing and local promotion strongly influence uptake.
Front Row For Everyone.
Eurovision 2026 showed that accessibility can be integrated into the live event experience in a simple, scalable and audience-friendly way. Accessify helps organisers turn accessibility from a requirement into a visible, usable and measurable part of the event.