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What to know about the Eurovision Song Contest as it turns 70 with a Vienna extravaganza
The contest will feature 35 countries and tighter voting rules as organizers confront boycotts and protests over Israel’s participation.
- The 70th Eurovision Song Contest opens in Vienna, Austria, on May 12 with 35 countries competing, though the event faces high-profile boycotts protesting Israel's participation.
- Tensions peaked in December when five countries—Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—withdrew after organizers decided to allow Israel to compete, citing concerns over the war against Hamas in Gaza.
- The European Broadcasting Union tightened voting rules to 10 votes per payment to combat rigging allegations, while last year's competition reached 166 million viewers with fans from 75 countries purchasing tickets.
- Jordan said that, at 70, Eurovision is "Part of our European culture" and can weather the latest storm, noting the contest's history of winning songs like "La, La, La" and "Boom Bang-a-Bang."
- The competition was founded in 1956 to foster unity after World War II, and organizers now are expanding globally with the first Eurovision Song Contest Asia scheduled for November in Bangkok.
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Inside Israel’s Eurovision 2026 mission: boos, boycotts, security and hopes of victor
With Eurovision set to begin in Vienna, Israel’s delegation is preparing for boos, Palestinian flags and complex security scenarios, while four countries boycott the contest over Israel’s participation and new voting rules threaten to weaken its public support; still, Noam Bettan’s team is aiming for victory
·Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left7Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Left
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources lean Left
64% Left
L 64%
C 27%
Factuality
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