Israel Stays In: ORF Confirms Eurovision 2026 Will Go Ahead in Vienna as Planned
Crisis averted — and Vienna breathes again.
After weeks of mounting pressure, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has quietly shelved its planned November vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, ensuring that the contest will go ahead in Vienna as scheduled next May.
The decision follows a major diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East, where Hamas released 20 hostages as part of a historic peace agreement — a development that appears to have diffused tensions even in the Eurovision sphere.
For Austria’s ORF, the broadcaster hosting the 70th anniversary edition, the news couldn’t have come sooner. Facing boycotts, political backlash and the threat of a €40 million contract penalty if the contest were cancelled, the network can now proceed “hocherfreut,” as General Director Roland Weißmann put it.
Pressure, Politics, and a Possible €40 Million Fine
In recent weeks, the ORF faced intense political pressure, particularly from Austria’s ÖVP government, which had warned it would withdraw from hosting the event if a mass boycott were triggered over Israel’s participation.
At one point, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland, along with several sponsors and even the BBC, had called for a secret EBU vote on whether Israel should be allowed to compete.
The date was set for 15 November, and insiders feared that the anonymity of the ballot could all but guarantee a majority in favour of exclusion.
That vote is now off the table.
From Tension to Relief
According to internal ORF sources, an emergency EBU Supervisory Board meeting on Monday morning decided to cancel the extraordinary vote, citing “the need for open, personal discussion among members” instead.
The issue will now be postponed to the regular winter General Assembly in December — a procedural move that effectively ensures Israel’s participation in next year’s contest.
Weißmann, who had consistently defended Israel’s right to participate, expressed delight at the outcome:
“The Song Contest must unite, not divide,” he said.
His stance was supported by the ORF Board, which described any attempt to exclude Israel as “no longer on the table.”
Vienna 2026: Business As Usual
With the uncertainty over, the ORF can now return to what it does best — showmanship. The 70th Eurovision Grand Final remains scheduled for 16 May 2026 at the Wiener Stadthalle, and the city is preparing for a massive “Eurovision Village” on Rathausplatz, set to be the largest fan zone in the contest’s history.
Vienna’s local economy, which had feared losing millions in tourism revenue, is also breathing a sigh of relief. “The show must go on — and in Vienna, it always does,” a city official quipped.
Source: Kronen Zeitung
