Vienna Sets Eurovision 2026 Grand Final for May 16 — When Is Eurovision 2026
when is eurovision 2026 is now set: the Grand Final will take place in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday 16 May, with the live broadcast starting at 8pm on iPlayer, One, Radio 2 and Sounds. The 70th edition gives the contest an anniversary backdrop, but the practical takeaway is simpler for viewers in the UK: the dates are fixed, and the has locked in its full coverage plan.
Vienna’s 70th edition
Vienna last hosted Eurovision in 2015, and the contest returns there for the first time in 11 years. Austria is hosting the 70th edition after JJ’s win, and 25 countries will perform in the Grand Final from a field of 35 competing countries.
The ’s lineup includes Graham Norton, Rylan, Sara Cox and Angela Scanlon, with Tia Kofi handling backstage and Vienna coverage for the broadcaster’s digital channels. Kalpna Patel-Knight said, “The continues to be the home of Eurovision in the UK, and this year we’re once again offering a treasure trove of brilliant content for audiences to enjoy as we cele”.
12 May and 14 May
The first live Semi-Final is scheduled for Tuesday 12 May, followed by the second live Semi-Final on Thursday 14 May. UK viewers will be able to vote in Thursday’s second Semi-Final, where LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER will perform Eins, Zwei, Drei.
That voting window matters because the United Kingdom already has a guaranteed place in the Grand Final as one of the pre-qualified Big Four countries, while Austria also goes straight through as reigning champion and host. The second Semi-Final is therefore the point where the UK audience has a direct role in shaping who joins Saturday’s lineup.
One and iPlayer
The is spreading the contest across television, radio and digital platforms, with the Grand Final airing live at 8pm on iPlayer, One, Radio 2 and Sounds. Angela Scanlon’s presence alongside the main commentary team points to a package built for both the broadcast audience and the online audience watching around the live show.
For viewers, the useful part is already settled: Vienna hosts, the semi-finals fall on 12 and 14 May, and the Grand Final lands on Saturday 16 May. If you want the UK’s live route into the competition, Thursday’s semi-final is the one to watch.
