Usually joyous song contest ‘a little bit sad’ this year, says one expert, with rows over Israel and costs to the fore
It was meant to be the crowning moment of a seemingly never-ending success story: the 70th anniversary of the world’s biggest and ever-expanding live music event, held in a city steeped in history both dramatic and musical.
But as Vienna gears up to host this year’s Eurovision song contest, which starts on Tuesday and culminates in Saturday’s grand final, euphoria will be hard to come by outside the power ballads performed onstage.
Due to boycotts over the inclusion of Israel, the musical extravaganza will take place without Spain and the Netherlands, traditionally Eurovision’s fifth and sixth largest financial contributors, Ireland, the joint record-holder with most winning contributions, Slovenia and Iceland.
It is an unprecedented moment in the contest’s seven-decade history and could have long-term consequences for a spectacle under pressure to justify its costs in a time of cuts to public broadcasters.
