US EditionHost Austria seeks to avoid Eurovision boycott over Israel participation
Austria urges European broadcasters not to boycott Eurovision 2026 over Israel's participation, emphasizing the contest's apolitical nature and promoting artistic dialogue amid political tensions.
- Austria hosts the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna amid threats of boycotts over Israel's potential participation announced before the December 4-5 EBU General Assembly decision.
- The boycott calls follow increased criticism since 2023 over Israel's military actions in Gaza after Hamas's October 2023 attack, fueling protests and demands for Israel's exclusion from Eurovision.
- Austria's Deputy Foreign Minister Sepp Schellhorn and ORF publicly oppose boycotts, stressing Eurovision's focus on music, artists' separation from national politics, and urging the EBU not to yield to blackmail.
- Several countries, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Iceland, have declared intentions to boycott, while broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm participation without penalty.
- The contest's outcome will reflect tensions between cultural unity and political pressures, with the EBU's December assembly expected to finalize Israel's status amid growing division.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Ireland, Spain and other countries want to boycott the European Song Contest, should Israel be allowed to participate. For Wolfram Weimer, the "Cancel Culture" is.
Is Israel excluded from the ESC because of the Gaza war? Several states are threatening to boycott. Minister of State for Culture Weimer criticizes this - it is about music. Austria's Foreign Minister calls for dialogue.
The Austrian foreign minister has urged six countries that plan to boycott Eurovision if Israel participates not to do so, saying the move would cause divisions among EBU members and would not improve the situation in Gaza.
The Austrian Foreign Minister called on the participating countries not to book the edition of the next year of Eurovision's music competition – which will take place in Vienna – as a result of Israel's presence...
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