US EditionEurovision Host Says It Will Not Drown Out Any Boos During Israel's Performance
Austria's public broadcaster will allow lawful Palestinian flags and crowd reactions, including booing, during Israel's Eurovision performance amid diplomatic tensions and boycott protests.
- On Dec 16 in Vienna, ORF announced it will allow Palestinian flags and all official flags complying with law, size, and security rules, and will not add artificial applause or mute booing.
- The 70th edition in May will have just 35 entries, the fewest since 2003 after five broadcasters including Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands boycotted Israel’s participation.
- At the ORF news conference, Michael Kroen said ORF will allow all official flags if they comply with venue rules, and ORF leadership said they would not sugarcoat coverage or mask audience reactions.
- Reaching around 166 million viewers, the contest will be broadcast on Kan, with Israel choosing its representative next month on The Next Star ahead of semifinals on May 12 and the grand final on May 16.
- Last year producers muted booing during Israel's performance, and Israel's 2025 entrant Yuval Raphael was at the Nova music festival targeted in the Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 and seized 251 hostages.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Austrian Eurovision broadcaster says won't ban Palestine lag or edit out anti-Israel boos
Austrian broadcaster, ORF, which will host Eurovision 2026, has said it will not ban Palestinian flags from the event or edit out the audience’s boos against Israel. The move appears to be an attempt to prevent more nations boycotting the event next May after Iceland, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands all announced their refusal to take part if genocidal Israel is allowed to compete. Eurovision organisers have claimed that they want t…
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Eurovision host broadcaster will allow Palestinian flags and won't drown out boos
Austrian broadcaster says it will 'not sugarcoat anything or avoid showing what is happening'
Palestinian flags won't be banned in Eurovision audience, host Austria announces
All flags will be allowed during the contest, boos from the audience during Israel's performance will not be obscured as was done in previous years, and no artificial applause will be added; 'We will not beautify anything or refrain from showing what is happening'
Austrian public broadcasting ORF confirms that no pre-recorded applause or shouts will be used either
The broadcaster that will host the next Eurovision Song Contest, Austria’s ORF, has announced that it will not censor anti-Israeli chants, as the backlash against its participation in the contest grows amid the genocide in Gaza. Specifically, the organizers said that they will not ban the Palestinian flag from the public or suppress chants during Israel’s performance, as has happened in previous contests. “We will allow all official flags that e…
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