Austrian officers have stated the nation will refuse to host the 2026 Eurovision Tune Contest if Israel is boycotted from the occasion.
Chancellor Christian Stocker and secretary normal of the ruling Austrian Individuals’s Social gathering (ÖVP) Alexander Pröll made the announcement on Wednesday, the web site Eurovision Enjoyable reported.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the physique chargeable for the annual music competitors, stated that its normal meeting will vote in November on whether or not Israel can take part.
There was stress to freeze Israel out of the competition due to the conflict in Gaza and the spiralling humanitarian disaster within the Strip.
Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland, Eire and Slovenia have all stated they’ll refuse to ship rivals to the occasion if Israel is permitted to participate.
Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker speaks throughout a information convention in Nicosia, 22 August, 2025 – AP Picture
Spains choice is especially important due to its position as one in every of Eurovision’s “large 5” sponsors, alongside France, German, Italy and the UK.
In line with the Israeli information portal Ynet in September, the EBU “unofficially” informed Israeli representatives that they should quickly withdraw from the competitors.
Alternatively, if Israel needs to stay within the contest, they should carry out underneath a impartial flag, much like the strategy taken by Russian athletes on the Olympic Video games.
Nevertheless, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Sunday that Germany would withdraw from the competition if Israel is prevented from competing, saying “Israel has a spot there.”
Austria is because of be host nation for the 2026 contest after its entrant, JJ, received final yr’s occasion with the music “Wasted Love.”
However refusing to host this late within the day might see the nationwide broadcaster, ORF, slapped with a penalty price of as much as €40 million.
Singer Yuval Raphael from Israel holds the nationwide flag throughout a costume rehearsal for the Eurovision Tune Contest in Basel, 16 Could, 2025 – AP Picture
Israel has been a participant in Eurovision, established after World Battle II to offer a discussion board for peaceable competitors amongst nations, since 1973.
As calls grew to take away Israel from the competition in 2024 and 2025 because of the Gaza conflict, the EBU stated that Eurovision will not be a contest between governments, however between public broadcasters.
It stated that Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN, had not violated any guidelines to warrant being frozen out of Eurovision.
Within the case that the profitable nation is unwilling or unable to host the competition, the BBC is considered the unofficial default broadcaster.
