The Grand Final running order of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 has been revealed, and it may have added a new layer of excitement to the race for the trophy in Vienna.
While the song, staging, live vocals and overall momentum remain the most important factors on the night, Eurovision fans know very well that the running order can also play a role, especially when it comes to televoting.
With the latest betting odds already showing a clear group of favourites, the order of appearance gives us some very interesting clues about who may have gained an advantage and who may now face a tougher challenge.
The favourites and their running order positions
| Country | Running order | Current win chance | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
 Finland |
17th | 37.5% | A strong late-middle position for the current favourite. |
 Australia |
8th | 15.0% | A relatively early slot, which may make the performance work harder to stay memorable. |
 Greece |
6th | 9.8% | An early position for one of the main contenders, making immediate impact essential. |
 Denmark |
1st | 7.4% | Opening the show brings visibility, but it can be difficult to maintain momentum until voting. |
 Israel |
3rd | 6.8% | A very early slot for a top-five betting contender. |
Finland remains the act to beat
Finland continues to lead the betting odds by a wide margin, with 37.5% winning chance according to the latest snapshot.
Performing 17th places Finland in a very comfortable part of the show. It is not among the final three or four performances, but it is late enough to remain fresh in viewers’ minds and gives the favourite plenty of room to make an impact.
For a country already leading the race, this is far from a bad draw. Finland enters the Grand Final as the clear favourite, and the running order does not appear to seriously damage its chances.
Australia and Greece face an early challenge
Australia and Greece, currently second and third in the betting odds, have both been placed in the first half of the show.
Australia will perform 8th, while Greece will appear even earlier, in 6th position. Both countries will need highly memorable performances to remain strong in the minds of viewers by the time all 25 songs have been performed.
This does not mean their chances are over. Far from it. But when compared with some of the later-placed entries, both Australia and Greece may need to deliver an even stronger television moment to protect their positions in the race.
Denmark opens the show
Denmark, currently fourth in the betting odds with 7.4%, has been given the opening slot of the Grand Final.
Opening Eurovision can be both a blessing and a challenge. It guarantees attention and sets the tone for the evening, but it also means the song will be followed by 24 other performances before voting concludes.
For Denmark, the key question will be whether Før vi går hjem can create a strong enough opening moment to remain in the conversation throughout the night.
The late-running dark horses
Some countries lower in the betting odds may have gained a valuable boost from their running order positions.
| Country | Running order | Current win chance | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
 Italy |
22nd | 2.3% | A strong late slot that could help the song stand out. |
 Norway |
23rd | 0.5% | A very late appearance that may improve televote visibility. |
 Romania |
24th | 3.5% | One of the strongest positions of the night for a contender outside the top five. |
 Austria |
25th | 0.2% | The host country closes the show, guaranteeing maximum final visibility. |
Could the running order change the result?
The running order alone does not win Eurovision. A strong song can overcome an early position, while a late slot cannot save a performance that fails to connect with viewers.
However, when the race is close, every detail matters. Performing later in the show can help a country stay fresh in the minds of voters, especially during the televote.
This year, Finland still looks like the country to beat. But with several potential dark horses placed in the final stretch of the show, Saturday night may still hold plenty of surprises.
One thing is certain: the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final running order has made the race even more fascinating.
