Austria seeks Eurovision compromise over Israel’s participation

Austria’s public broadcaster ORF has said it is continuing to work toward a compromise on Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.

Speaking in Vienna, ORF director general Roland Weissmann said he had been engaged in “intense work” to persuade broadcasters to attend next year’s contest, adding that “this is the time for diplomacy”.

Austria is due to host Eurovision’s 70th edition in Vienna on May 12, 14 and 16, 2026, following Austrian singer JJ’s victory in 2025.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has postponed its decision on Israel’s participation. A vote expected in November at an extraordinary meeting will now take place at the EBU’s regular general assembly in December.

The delay comes as broadcasters remain divided. Spain has said it will withdraw if Israel competes, while Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands have issued similar warnings. Public broadcasters in Belgium, Sweden and Finland are still assessing their positions.

Austria’s state secretary for foreign affairs Sepp Schellhorn criticised calls for a boycott, arguing that Eurovision should remain a cultural event rather than a political battleground.

Germany has also warned against excluding Israel, saying such a move would politicise the contest and contradict what it described as the country’s “historical responsibility”.

Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, has previously said it would not compete in Eurovision 2026 if Israel remains in the line-up, citing concerns over the war in Gaza and attacks on journalists. RTÉ has said that its final decision will depend on the outcome of the EBU’s December discussions.

The debate comes as the EBU faces broader scrutiny over consistency in its rules. Russia was excluded in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, while Belarus was removed in 2021 after its state broadcaster was suspended from the EBU over media freedom concerns.

Israel finished second at last year's Eurovision, after a performance from Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7, 2023 attacks at the Nova Music Festival.

Despite the uncertainty, preparations in Vienna are ongoing. Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria have all announced plans to return to the competition in 2026, while Canada has entered discussions with the EBU about a possible debut.