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In a dramatic turn, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker and State Secretary Alexander Pröll have announced that Austria should not host the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is banned from participating. The announcement, reported by Eurovision Fun on Wednesday, has stirred widespread debate across Europe’s music and political spheres.
The Eurovision Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the competition, recently confirmed that its general assembly will vote in November on whether Israel can participate in the upcoming contest. The vote, originally scheduled for December, was unexpectedly moved up amid mounting pressure from several European broadcasters.
Mounting calls for boycott
Several nations have publicly stated that they will not take part in Eurovision 2026 if Israel remains in the lineup, citing the ongoing war in Gaza. Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Iceland are among those who have announced boycotts.
Spain’s stance carries particular weight, as it is one of Eurovision’s “big five” financial sponsors, alongside France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced strong opposition to any boycott, asserting that Germany would also withdraw from the contest if Israel were excluded. Merz emphasized Germany’s “historical responsibility” to defend Israel’s right to participate.
Austria caught in the middle
Austria, which won Eurovision 2025 through JJ’s emotional ballad “Wasted Love”, is contractually obliged to host next year’s contest in Vienna. Backing out could cost the Austrian broadcaster ORF up to €40 million in penalties. Despite this, Stocker and Pröll maintain that hosting under boycott conditions would contradict Austria’s democratic and cultural principles.
Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig has also weighed in, describing any exclusion of Israel as “a serious mistake.” While he insists the city still intends to host, reports suggest tense discussions are underway between Ludwig and federal officials to avoid a diplomatic and financial crisis.
EBU stands firm
The EBU has previously defended Israel’s participation, clarifying that Eurovision is “a competition between public broadcasters, not governments.” It suspended Russia in 2022 after its state broadcaster spread government propaganda, but it maintains that Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN, operates independently despite receiving state funding.
KAN’s strained relationship with the Israeli government further underscores this independence. The network has faced threats of closure from Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi after airing content critical of government policies.
Israel’s Eurovision legacy
Israel has competed in Eurovision since 1973 and has won four times — in 1978, 1979, 1998, and 2018. Its 2025 contestant, Yuval Raphael, finished second with “New Day Will Rise”, a song inspired by the Nova Music Festival tragedy. Despite political tensions, Israel continues to enjoy strong audience support across Europe.
As November’s EBU vote approaches, the fate of Eurovision 2026 hangs in the balance. Whether Vienna will host the contest — and whether Israel will take the stage — remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the world’s most-watched music event has become Europe’s latest political battleground.