Austria opens search for 2026 word of the year

Austria has begun its search for the 2026 word of the year, ORF reports. The preliminary selection runs until 1 November, with voting scheduled to begin on 3 November.

The Society for Austrian German, an organisation that oversees the selection, is collecting words and quotations that have particular social significance or linguistic quality during 2026. Suggestions can be submitted online.

Last year, the term “Rabattpickerl” was named the non-word of the year, while the mysterious but widely used number sequence “6 7” became the youth word of the year.

After the preliminary phase, a jury from the Society for Austrian German will select the final candidates. The public can then vote from 3 to 30 November for the word and non-word of the year, the youth word, and the anti-saying and saying of the year.

The results will be announced by the Society for Austrian German in Graz on 3 December.