A growing number of voices from Austria’s ruling People’s Party (ÖVP) are calling on organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, set to be held in Vienna this May, to reconsider hosting the event if Israel is excluded from the competition.
According to Austrian media, several politicians have backed the idea that Austria should withdraw from hosting if the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) bans Israel from participating or forces it to compete under a neutral flag — a model similar to that imposed on Russian athletes in the Olympics following international sanctions.
The EBU is expected to make an official decision on Israel’s participation in November, during its General Assembly. Until then, international pressure has grown sharply.
Countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland, and Slovenia have already warned that they will boycott the contest if Israel is allowed to take part.
Austria earned the right to host Eurovision 2026 after singer JJ won last year’s edition. However, if the Austrian public broadcaster refuses to go ahead with the event, it could face a fine of up to €40 million.
In such cases, the hosting rights are typically transferred to one of the “Big Five” sponsor countries.
The EBU’s final decision is expected to have a direct impact on the fate of the 2026 contest, potentially triggering an unprecedented crisis for Eurovision.
