Host broadcaster says show will not suffer after four countries withdraw from 2026 contest over Israel and Gaza
Austria has said it will continue with plans to host next year’s Eurovision, in spite of its budget being hit by four countries boycotting the song contest over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
At a meeting in Geneva, the national broadcasters that make up the European Broadcasting Union gave the all clear for Israel to take part in next year’s event in Vienna, the contest’s 70th anniversary edition.
In response, broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands announced they would boycott the world’s largest live music event by declining to broadcast the semi-finals and finals and not fielding their own entrants.
Even though Spain is among the “big five” nations in terms of financial contributions to Eurovision, the Austrian broadcaster ORF said the 2026 event would go ahead in May as planned.
