Austria will perform last at the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final after a dramatic draw in Vienna, with new mascot Auri unveiled and fresh insights from the Heads of Delegation meeting.
As part of the Heads of Delegation Meeting for Eurovision 2026, held recently in Vienna, it was officially announced that Austria will perform as the 25th and final act in the Grand Final following a live draw. The draw was conducted by the contest’s newly revealed mascot, Auri, who randomly selected the final performance slot – securing the host nation the prestigious closing position on May 16th.
Austria, as the host country of Eurovision 2026, automatically qualifies for the Grand Final along with the “Big 4” – the four main financial contributors to the contest. Austrian represantative will be COSMÓ with the song “Tanzschein”. Performing last in the running order is widely considered one of the most advantageous positions, giving Austria a strategic edge in the final ranking.
Auri: The New Mascot of Eurovision 2026
Alongside the draw, organizers officially revealed Auri as the official mascot for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. According to an official announcement, the mascot will be fully presented to the public during a press event on March 19th by the national broadcaster ORF.
Auri replaces Lumo, the mascot of Eurovision 2025 in Basel, which was a vibrant heart-shaped figure with distinctive orange hair. Like other major international events such as the Olympics, Eurovision continues to embrace mascots as a key symbol of its identity and branding.
Behind the Scenes at the Delegations Meeting
The Heads of Delegation Meeting, held today in Vienna, marks one of the most critical milestones in the preparation process for Eurovision 2026. Delegates from around 35 participating countries gathered in the Austrian capital to receive official production updates and logistical briefings.
During the meeting, all songs, stage designs, and technical requirements were finalized. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) also delivered comprehensive briefings on voting procedures, security protocols, and contest regulations. Additional details were shared about the rehearsal schedule, stage time allocation for each delegation, and specific guidelines for LED screen usage and special effects.
The summit took place one week after the official submission deadline, giving the production team time for thorough reviews and in-depth discussions with participating countries.
Eurovision 2026: the 70th edition of the contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026. The Wiener Stadthalle arena, which will host the event, is expected to accommodate around 16,000 spectators per show. The contest returns to Austria following the nation’s third historic win with the song “Wasted Love”, performed by JJ. It will be Austria’s third time hosting Eurovision, after previous editions held in the country in 1967 and 2015.
