Last week, the Austrian national broadcaster ORF sparked controversy after removing a newly posted schedule for Eurovision 2026. One major theory for its removal related to Israel’s continued participation in the contest.

The original post stated that the list of participating countries would be published this September. Meanwhile, Israel is still fighting off calls for its exclusion, with Iceland and Slovenia threatening to withdraw if Israel remains.

According to several fans, the uncertainty over Israel’s involvement could prevent the EBU from committing to a closing date for the confirmed participant list. This theory suggests the original post was deleted for that reason.

Earlier this week, the Austrian national broadcaster held a press conference revealing further details. Hitradio Ö3’s Instagram, linked to the national broadcaster, subsequently released a new post about the schedule—this time using more vague language and presenting new updates.

Key schedule changes in the new post:

• Ticket Sales: Previously scheduled for December 2025, ticket sales have now been pushed to 2026, indicating a projected delay.

• Announcement of Participating Countries: In the first post, the final list of countries was meant to close by September 2025. The new post is vaguer, pointing only to the coming autumn season. This adjustment reflects the speculation that Israeli participation is complicating a final deadline.

• Hosts Announcement: The new post also confirms the hosts for the three main shows will be revealed at the end of this year. The grand final is set for Saturday, May 16, with the two semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday, May 12 and 14, respectively.

Austria’s Vague Policy and Israel’s Uncertain Status

This new, non-committal approach by the Austrian broadcaster sheds light on concerns among Israeli fans. Despite Israel’s efforts to stave off criticism, the broadcaster keeps the participant list announcement shrouded in ambiguity—putting Israel’s spot in the contest under a cloud of uncertainty.