The organizers of Eurovision 2026 have stated that they are prepared for protests during the final in Vienna
The organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 have stated that they are prepared for potential incidents during the final show in Vienna amid protests over Israel’s participation.
This was reported by Politico.
Jean-Philippe De Tender, Deputy Director General of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), emphasized that the contest remains “apolitical,” but acknowledged its socio-political impact.
“The EBU is not the European Union and not the European Commission. We are not the UN, so we do not need to make political decisions,” he said.
At the same time, this year five countries—Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland—are boycotting the contest due to Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza.
Organizers noted that they are trying to bring these countries back to participate next year, but the final decision rests with the national broadcasters.
The Politico article also highlights criticism regarding “double standards,” as Russia was excluded from the contest in 2022 following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
De Tender explained that the situations are different:
“The war made it clear that there was no independent news coverage in Russia,” he said.
At the same time, according to the organizers, the Israeli broadcaster KAN is considered independent and is eligible to participate in the contest.
It has also been confirmed that the audience’s reaction in the hall will not be concealed during the final:
“We will not hide any booing. The sound level will remain the same for all artists,” De Tender noted.
The organizers added that security services will be on high alert, as protests are expected in Vienna on the day of the final.
The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Vienna, Austria. Twenty-five contestants representing their countries will compete in the grand final.
As a reminder, Romania advanced to the Eurovision 2026 final, but Alexandra Capitanescu’s performance and her song “Choke Me” sparked controversy due to the content and repetitive phrases, which some experts and viewers deemed controversial. Despite the criticism, the country still secured a spot in the grand final.
Eurovision organizers issued a warning to Israel for violating voting rules.
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