When will the Eurovision 2026 running order be revealed? While the EBU remains silent, a social media slip-up from the Montenegrin national broadcaster has potentially leaked the highly anticipated date.
Eurovision fans with a keen memory likely noticed today’s date: exactly one year ago, on March 27th, 2025, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) released the full running order for the semi-finals for Eurovision 2025. This year, however, fans across Europe have been left in suspense, as the EBU, along with the host production from the Austrian national broadcaster ORF, has maintained media silence without hinting when this critical information will be published.
Yet, in the age of social media, secrets are hard to keep – especially when social media managers from the broadcasters themselves engage directly with the fans.
The Leak from the Montenegrin National Broadcaster
In recent hours, the official TikTok account of the Montenegrin national broadcaster (RTCG) dedicated to Eurovision matters, known as “Eurovision Montenegro,” provided a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse. In the comments section of one of the videos, a curious user asked: “Montesong, do u know when will be the running order of semi finals in eurovision 2026?”
To the astonishment of followers, the official account of the national broadcaster did not ignore or evade the question, but instead replied with a brief and explicit two-word response: “April 2”.
🚨The official TikTok account of RTCG, “Eurovision Montenegro” revealed that the running order for #Eurovision 2026 semis will be revealed on Thursday, April 2nd. pic.twitter.com/mpSar2LVMT
— Eurovision News (@EurovisionNewZ) March 27, 2026
Ending the Suspense for the Fan Community
This short answer arrived just in time for the contest’s followers. The audience, which has been in eager anticipation for some time, can now breathe a sigh of relief and begin to get excited for the designated date. Historically, the reveal of the Eurovision running order has almost always occurred as a complete surprise without any prior announcement. The EBU typically drops the list in the middle of the day during March or April.
It appears that the information regarding April 2nd was unintentionally disclosed by the national broadcaster of Montenegro, which likely received an internal update from the EBU alongside other delegations but failed to coordinate the official reveal timing.
What to Expect Next Thursday
The focus for the international audience is now set on next Thursday (April 2nd). On this day, we will finally discover the exact starting positions for all competing acts for both semi-finals, set to take place on May 12th and 14th in Vienna, Austria.”
As a reminder, the semi-final allocation draw published on January 12th determined which half of the show each country would perform in. However, the specific placement within the semi-final—a factor that can dramatically influence a country’s chances of qualifying for the Grand Final—remains a mystery until the official running order is set by the producers.
Eurovision 2026 – Dates and Times
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in May, following longstanding tradition. Here are the confirmed dates for the live shows:
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First Semi-Final: Tuesday, May 12th, 2026
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Second Semi-Final: Thursday, May 14th, 2026
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The Grand Final: Saturday, May 16th, 2026
For those asking “What time does Eurovision 2026 start?”, each of the live broadcasts will begin at 21:00 CET (Central European Time).
Ten countries from each semi-final will qualify for the Grand Final on May 16th, joining the “Big 4” (France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom) and the host nation, Austria, in the battle for the trophy.
Host City and Venue: Vienna 2026
Eurovision 2026 will be held in Vienna, Austria. This marks the third time in history that Austria has hosted the competition, following the 1967 and 2015 editions. The event will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle, which is expected to accommodate approximately 16,000 spectators for each show. This is the second time the arena has hosted the contest, having previously served as the venue for Eurovision 2015.
Road to the Contest: Preparations Underway
Preparations for the 70th edition of the contest are already in full swing. On January 12th, 2026, the Semi-Final Allocation Draw took place, a pivotal event determining which semi-final each participating country will perform in. Shortly after, on January 13th, the initial ticket sales officially commenced. This was followed by the second and final wave of ticket sales, which took place on March 26th, allowing the final groups of fans to secure their spots in the arena.
Currently, all 35 representatives from across Europe and beyond are conducting intensive rehearsals in their respective countries. In early May, all delegations will arrive in Vienna to begin their formal on-stage technical rehearsals, leading up to the grand opening of the Eurovision season.
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.
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Noy Yehoyada is an Israeli journalist and content creator at the EuroMix team since 2024, bringing a personal, feminine, and LGBTQ+ voice into the Eurovision sphere. A devoted Eurovision fan since the age of 16, she plays an active role in covering the contest—including on-site reporting at Eurovision 2025 in Basel and across European pre-party events. Alongside her writing and commentary, Noy plans the editorial schedule for the website, closely tracks national selections and song reveals, participates in live broadcasts, and creates digital content focusing on representation, musical diversity, and emotional connections.
Beyond her work at EuroMix, Noy has over six years of experience in the cosmetics and pharma industries, with a background in sales, personal consulting, and managing beauty departments. She enjoys pop, rap, contemporary art, and traveling in Europe—and especially loves songs that make her want to dance, as well as those that tell a story.
