ESC 2026 in Vienna: Threatening boycott because of Israel's participation!

ESC 2026 in Vienna: Threatening boycott because of Israel's participation!

The Eurovision Song Contest, which is due to take place in Vienna in 2026, faces a possibly profound political crisis. This was triggered by a secret voting procedure of the European Radio Union (EBU), which is to decide in November 2025 to participate in Israel. The background to this drastic measure is repeated boycott threats of sponsors and countries such as Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland, which have announced their back in the event of Israeli participation in the event. EBU has provided a procedure for secret coordination in order to manage the diverse pressure, especially in the current geopolitical situation. oe24 reports that this decision was discussed during a supervisory board meeting.

The decision on Israel's participation comes against the backdrop of intense international tensions. The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, in which more than 65,000 Palestinians have died since October 2023, has further fueled the discussion about the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel is accused of genocide by a UN commission of inquiry and human rights organizations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now faces an enormous challenge due to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court and ongoing criticism of Israel's conduct of the war. Loud Middle East Eye At least five European countries have announced that they will withdraw if Israel is allowed to take part in the event in Vienna.

The reactions to the boycott

ORF general director Roland Weißmann pleads for Israel's participation in the competition, while ESC winner JJ is open to his exclusion. Insiders fear that the secret coordination will benefit the opponents of Israel in EBU. EBU has already created precedent in the past by excluding Russia from the competition after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This persistent pressure means that the ESC, a cultural event with hundreds of millions of viewers annually, becomes increasingly a political issue, which in turn makes the integrity of the competition questionable.

Spain in particular is determined: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has supported the boycott call and is calling for Israel to be excluded from international competitions. RTVE, the Spanish public broadcaster, has clearly linked its decision to the ESC's moral responsibility. The discussion is particularly intensive with regard to the high economic value that the competition has for the host country as well as the cultural values ​​that the ESC stands for. Augsburg general emphasizes that the Eurovision Song Contest has been an important music event since it was founded in 1956 that attracts countless spectators every year.

The vote in November will decide whether the ESC will continue to be perceived as a platform for cultural exchange or whether political tensions will have a lasting impact on the event. Regardless of the outcome of this vote, the Eurovision Song Contest remains a reflection of social and political trends in Europe and beyond.