Austria Hosts 2026 Eurovision Final as 5 Countries Boycott Over Israel's Participation
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 16
Austria Hosts 2026 Eurovision Final as 5 Countries Boycott Over Israel's Participation
10 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 16
Vienna stages Saturday's Eurovision grand final with 25 songs competing, but the 70th edition is overshadowed by a boycott from Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia.
Israel's inclusion triggered the protest, tied to the fallout from its Gaza offensive after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack and renewed scrutiny of how televoting can sway the result.
Organisers cut the maximum public votes per person to 10, urged viewers to back multiple songs and tightened rules on disproportionate promotion campaigns.
KAN, Israel's public broadcaster, was formally warned last week over videos urging viewers to vote 10 times; it said the clips were removed immediately and complied with the rules.
Finland, Australia, Greece and Israel are among the favourites in a contest organisers call the world's biggest music show, with Sweden and Ireland holding a record seven wins each.
With boycotts and voting scandals plaguing Eurovision, will tonight's winner be decided by music or politics?
As the largest boycott in history divides Eurovision, can its 'united by music' motto ever be restored?