At the Heads of Delegation meeting held in Vienna, it was confirmed that host nation Austria will perform in slot 25, closing the Grand Final in May.

The draw, which follows a long-standing tradition at Eurovision’s annual delegation gathering, determined that Cosmó, Austria’s chosen representative, will be the final act to take to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle.

This will mark the first time that a host nation has closed the Grand Final since 2023, when the United Kingdom performed last in Liverpool as a co-host alongside Ukraine. Since the introduction of production-determined running orders in 2013, the host country’s position has always been drawn at random, ensuring that no home advantage creeps into the show. While production teams carefully craft the rest of the running order to give every entry its best chance to shine, the host’s slot remains entirely down to the luck of the draw.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in Vienna following JJ’s victory for Austria with Wasted Love in Basel. 35 countries are set to participate, with two semi-finals scheduled for 12 and 14 May, and the Grand Final taking place on 16 May. The contest will be held at the Wiener Stadthalle, the same area that welcomed the contest just over a decade ago.