Austria has warned it could refuse to host the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is excluded from the competition. October 8th saw Chancellor Christian Stocker and Alexander Pröll, secretary general of the ruling Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), announce Austria’s official position, according to Eurovision fun.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU)—which oversees the annual contest—will hold a vote in November to decide whether Israel’s Kan broadcaster can participate.
Several countries—including Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—have signalled potential boycotts if Israel is allowed to take part. Spain is the first of Eurovision’s “Big Five” sponsors, alongside France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, to formally announce it would withdraw should Kan take part.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany stated on October 5th that his country would support a boycott if Israel is frozen out, saying “Israel belongs in Eurovision” and calling any move to bar the Jewish state “scandalous.”
Austria is set to host the contest after last year’s winner, JJ, brought home the Kjell Engman-designed trophy. Refusing to host could trigger a penalty fee of up to €40 million for the Austrian broadcaster ORF.
The EBU emphasised that Eurovision is a competition between public broadcasters, not governments, and said Israel’s participation does not violate any rules.
