Austrian singer and actor Tom Neuwirth has confirmed his participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will take place in Vienna. He shared the news in an interview, noting that his exact role at the contest has not yet been fully defined.

According to Neuwirth, Eurovision is the event that fundamentally changed his life. In 2014, he won the competition performing as Conchita Wurst—a moment he describes as the fulfillment of a long-held dream. Prior to Eurovision, the artist had already gained stage experience, including taking part in the talent show Starmania; however, his career today extends far beyond the title of Eurovision winner.

Neuwirth is currently активно engaged in theatre work. At Vienna’s Rabenhof Theatre, he portrays the eccentric Archduke Ludwig Viktor of Habsburg, known by the nickname “Luziwuzi.” This role earned him the Nestroy Audience Award. The artist admits that he sees certain parallels between himself and the character.

Beyond the theatre, Neuwirth has also achieved international success. In November 2025, he performed the role of the “Angel of Death” in the musical Romeo & Juliet – Love Is Everything at Berlin’s Theater des Westens, appearing in twelve performances. He has also been featured in a number of television projects, including the show FameMaker and as a judge on ProSieben’s Queen of Drags.

The artist emphasizes that what he values most is the ability to evoke emotions in audiences—from laughter to profound reflection—and considers thorough preparation, precision, and a high standard of quality to be the key to success.

Alongside his acting career, Neuwirth continues to pursue music. In 2018, he released the album From Vienna with Love, followed by Truth Over Magnitude in 2019, and in 2021 he presented the single Malebo, recorded in collaboration with Martin Zerza.

 Photo: Instagram @conchitawurst

Austrian drag queen singer and Eurovision 2014 winner Tom Neuwirth, who performs as Conchita Wurst, has new creative ambitions: the artist wants to try himself in the role of a true villain on screen. In a recent interview with the German Press Agency, the 36-year-old artist said he wants to delve into the complexity of the human psyche, particularly to explore the boundaries between good and evil.

«I’m interested in what drives people, and where the dark side lives within me,» Neuwirth shared. According to him, acting is an opportunity to discover the most contrasting parts of oneself.

Neuwirth already has experience in both theatre and film. He played Archduke Ludwig Viktor — the brother of Emperor Franz Joseph — in the play «Luzivuzi» in Vienna. According to the Rabenhof Theater, Ludwig Viktor was an extraordinary personality with a free spirit, and Neuwirth admits he feels close to this character.

The singer will also appear in the film «The Blood Countess,» directed by Ulrike Ottinger. The film tells the story of the legendary Erzsébet Báthory, who was accused of murdering young girls in order to preserve her youth. In this project, Neuwirth took on several roles — from the host of a vampire ball to an androgynous singer and even himself.

Despite not having a formal acting education, the artist is actively developing in this new direction without leaving music behind. On July 11, he will perform in Germany with the program «From Vienna with Love,» together with the Mecklenburg State Orchestra, on the open-air stage of the Schwerin Theater.

As a reminder, Conchita Wurst became internationally famous after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014, representing Austria with the song «Rise Like a Phoenix.»

Photo: Instagram @conchitawurst