Eurovision 2026: Final Lineup and When Sal Da Vinci Sings

La official lineup of the Eurovision 2026 final was announced after the second semi-final on Thursday, May 14. The Grand Final will be held on Saturday May 16, 2026 to the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, with 25 Countries competing to win the 70th edition of the competition.

Italy, represented by Sal Da Vinci with Forever yes, will sing in position 22, in the final part of the evening. It opens the Denmark, while the closing will be theAustria, Host Country. The live broadcast will begin at 21:00 su Rai 1, RaiPlay and Rai Radio2, with previews from 20:35 on Rai 1.

When will Sal Da Vinci sing in the Eurovision 2026 final?

Sal Da Vinci sings at number 22 in the setlist for the Eurovision 2026 final, then in the final part of the race, after Cyprus and before the NorwayThe position was made official the night after the second semi-final, when the finalists were finalized and the Grand Final draw was finalized.

For those who only want to follow Italy's performance, the most useful information is the estimated time. Considering the 22nd place out of 25 and the pace followed by the semifinals, Sal Da Vinci should take the stage approximately after 23:00, with a plausible window between 23:00 PM and 23:30 AMHowever, this is not an official time to the minute, because the actual length of the show depends on the host, breaks, postcards, technical timing, and the flow of the evening.

The most precise answer is this: Sal Da Vinci is 22nd in the lineup and should sing in the final phase of the show, probably after 11pm, but to avoid the risk of missing the performance it is better to follow the live broadcast in advance..

The position at the bottom of the lineup can be interpreted as a visibility advantage, because later performances often remain fresher in the public's memory, even though at Eurovision the result depends on many factors, including song, performance, televoting, juries and overall television impact.

What is the official lineup for the final?

The Eurovision 2026 final will be opened by Denmark and closed by Austria., with Italy placed at number 22. The lineup includes the 20 countries qualified from the two semi-finals and the 5 automatic finalists of this edition: Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom e Austria, host country.

The opening order is important because it allows the audience to orient themselves during a long evening, with 25 performances and a voting phase that will lead to the announcement of the winner on the night between Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th. Italy's placement at the end makes Sal Da Vinci one of the last artists to perform before the closing ceremony, entrusted to the host country.

The official lineup for the Eurovision 2026 final is this:

• 1. Denmark
• 2. Germany
• 3. Israel
• 4. Belgium
• 5 Albania
• 6 Greece
• 7. Ukraine
• 8. Australia
• 9. Serbia
• 10 malt
• 11. Czech Republic
• 12. Bulgaria
• 13. Croatia
• 14. United Kingdom
• 15. France
• 16. Moldova
• 17 Finland
• 18 Poland
• 19. Lithuania
• 20. Sweden
• 21. Cyprus
• 22. Italia
• 23. Norway
• 24. Romania
• 25. austria

The most sought after data by Italian viewers is the position of Italy: Sal Da Vinci sings after Cyprus and before Norway, in a very advanced part of the lineup.

Where can I watch the Eurovision 2026 final on TV and streaming?

The Eurovision 2026 final will air on Saturday 16 May at 9pm on Rai 1., with live broadcast also on RaiPlay, RaiRadio2 and on the official social media channels of the Eurovision Song Contest. Rai 1 also has aPreview at 20:35 PM, useful for getting into the mood of the evening before the official start of the show.

For Italian viewers, Rai 1 remains the primary source for following the match on television, while RaiPlay allows you to stream the final on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or smart TV. Rai Radio2 also allows you to follow the event in audio mode, a useful solution for those unable to watch the live broadcast.

Anyone who wants to see Sal Da Vinci should tune in to the final on Saturday 16 May, because that will be the night when Italy will truly compete for the final ranking..

The live broadcast will be long: according to available information, the conclusion with the announcement of the winner is expected around1:00 at night on Sunday, May 17. This is also a prediction, as the final times depend on the pace of the show, the voting process, and the entertainment.

How many countries are participating in the final?

25 countries will participate in the Eurovision 2026 final, that is, the 20 qualifiers from the semifinals plus the five automatic finalists. Ten countries advanced from the two semifinals each evening, while Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Austria had already qualified for the final.

The number of finalists reflects a peculiarity of this edition: the total number of competing countries is 35, the lowest figure since the competition expanded in 2004, according to the reconstruction reported by the source. The reduction is linked to the withdrawal of five countries in protest at Israel's participation: Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Slovenia.

The formula for the final is therefore clear: 20 countries arrive from the semi-finals, 5 enter directly, and all play for victory on the evening of May 16th..

For Italy, this structure means that Sal Da Vinci didn't have to make it past the semifinals, but still performed the song en route to the Grand Final. The decisive performance, however, remains Saturday night, when televoting and juries will contribute to the overall result.

Why might position 22 be important?

Position 22 can be favorable because it places Italy in the final part of the evening, when the audience has already heard most of the songs but hasn't yet reached the end of the competition. At Eurovision, the order of appearances doesn't determine the outcome, but it can impact viewers' memories, especially in a final with 25 performances.

Singing too early can be riskier, as the audience must remember the performance until the voting. Singing at the end, however, allows you to get closer to the decisive moment of the evening, although it alone isn't enough to secure a good placement. A strong vocal performance, effective staging, and a song that stands out among the very diverse offerings are essential.

For Sal Da Vinci, the 22nd position is an opportunity for visibility: Italy will arrive almost at the bottom of the ladder, after Cyprus and before Norway, at a time when attention towards the final phase of the competition will be high..

The risk, if anything, is a long wait for Italian audiences. Those who want to follow it live will have to stay tuned until late evening, as the performance isn't scheduled for the first half of the show.

What song is Sal Da Vinci competing with?

Sal Da Vinci represents Italy with Forever Yes, song with which he won the last one Festival of SanremoThe song is entering Eurovision as the official Italian entry and will be performed in the final on May 16, after a preview performance during the semi-finals.

The song brings a melodic and emotional dimension to the stage, unlike many of the more electronic, theatrical, or experimental offerings typical of Eurovision. This could be a strength if the performance manages to convey emotional immediacy to an international audience, but it could become a challenge if the final context favors more explosive or visually aggressive entries.

The challenge of Per sempre sì will be to transform a song that won at Sanremo into a performance capable of working in front of a much wider European audience, less tied to the artistic history of Sal Da Vinci..

Ranking 22nd offers him some good television time, but the competition remains wide open. Italy will have to compete against a wide variety of artists and countries, including favorites, outsiders, and acts that have already attracted attention during the semifinals.

Who opens and who closes the final?

The Eurovision 2026 final will be opened by Denmark and closed by Austria., Host Country. The opening is always a delicate moment, as it must set the pace for the evening and introduce the audience to the show, while the closing carries a strong symbolic weight, especially when it's the turn of the nation hosting the edition.

Austria reaches the final not only as a competitor, but also as a host country after winning the previous year. The closing of the lineup therefore gives them a highly visible role, while Italy remains just shy of the final block, at number 22 out of 25.

The final part of the final will be composed of Cyprus, Italy, Norway, Romania and Austria: a very important segment for those who follow the race in a strategic way, because it concentrates some of the last impressions before the voting phase..

For Italian audiences, knowing who precedes and follows Sal Da Vinci also helps them navigate the show. After Cyprus, Italy will follow, followed by Norway, and then the final two performances of the evening.