Italian broadcasting officials have sparked controversy by demanding Palestinian representation at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, intensifying the ongoing global debate regarding the competition’s inclusivity and political landscape
Three of the seven board members of the Italian national broadcaster RAI have officially approached Eurovision 2026 organizers in Vienna, demanding the inclusion of a Palestinian presence within the competition. According to the letter, the proposal suggests inviting a Palestinian artist for a special non-competitive performance, a move that deepens the existing tensions surrounding the event’s participation list.
This appeal, recently reported by Italian media, surfaces amid growing domestic opposition to the current competitive lineup, placing the song contest at the center of a renewed political-cultural storm.
Official Appeal for Palestinian Visibility in Vienna
In their correspondence to the contest’s organizers, the three board members stated: “Palestine must be given a place on the stage in Vienna if we are not to undermine the values of inclusion and brotherhood upon which music stands”.
The officials argue that a Palestinian representative should participate as a guest rather than a contestant, emphasizing the need to provide “visibility to an artist representing Palestinian culture as a sign of civil sensitivity and the promotion of dialogue”. These efforts aim to influence the agenda for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May in Vienna.
Political Tensions and Potential Withdrawal Threats
The three officials behind the proposal have previously voiced support for Italy withdrawing from the competition under certain conditions – a stance that was ultimately rejected by RAI leadership. Nevertheless, internal pressure within the national broadcaster has mounted in recent weeks. Dozens of employees have initiated a petition calling for Italy to withdraw from the event or refrain from broadcasting it entirely.
This petition seeks to align Italy with five nations that have already announced their withdrawal from the competition: Iceland, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, and Ireland.
The board members, Alessandro di Majo, Davide Di Pietro, and Roberto Natale, noted that this initiative is “a first sign – but not the last – that the conflict in Gaza continues to cast a shadow over the musical event in Vienna”.
According to the RAI officials, international pressure may still influence the decisions of European broadcasting bodies. A meeting is scheduled for mid-march between EBU representatives and the Austrian broadcaster ORF, which is responsible for producing Eurovision 2026, to finalize the content of the three live broadcasts.
While neither the EBU nor ORF have issued an official response to the Italian proposal, the move carries significant weight as it comes from a prominent member of the Big Five. This development follows a public declaration by Levante, a participant in the Sanremo Festival, who announced she would not represent Italy at Eurovision even if she were to win the national selection.
Debate Over Inclusivity and Membership Rules
The initiative has sparked broader questions regarding the legitimacy of including a non-EBU member in the official program. Since Palestine is not a member of the European Broadcasting Union, observers have questioned the technical context of the proposal. Furthermore, some critics point to a perceived lack of proportionality, noting that while the focus remains on this specific issue, other severe global crises – Including those in Iran, Sudan, and Ethiopia – remain largely absent from the contest’s agenda despite significant humanitarian tolls. Does their culture not merit a representative as well?
Italy at Eurovision 2025
“Volevo essere un duro” (in English: “I Wanted to Be Tough”) is the song performed by singer Lucio Corsi, which came second at the 75th edition of the Sanremo Festival. The song was written by the singer himself along with Tommaso Ottomano. This was the singer’s first-ever appearance at the festival. The song is performed in Italian. The song finished fifth in the grand final with 256 points.
Italy returns to the Eurovision Grand Final Top 5 after last year achieving “only” seventh place.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Italy’s 51st participation in Eurovision. Italy joined the contest in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won three times over the years. Italy’s most recent victory was at Eurovision 2021 with the song “Zitti e buoni” performed by the band Måneskin.
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Maor Heumann has been writing about the Eurovision Song Contest and following it for over three decades. He has attended five contests and has found something to appreciate in almost every possible musical genre — from the sugary pop entries that finish last in the semi-finals to the quirky avant-garde pieces that even the competition’s juries struggled to connect with. He usually prefers original languages and songs with depth over Swedish-produced English clones — though he doesn’t promise to stick to that rule.
He grew up on the kibbutz of Sara’le Sharon, who instilled in him a love for music and created his first connection to the contest back in 1993 — before most of the current editorial team was even born.
