Vienna, host city of Eurovision 2026, is launching a new initiative: for one week, its iconic coffeehouses will each represent a different participating country. One country, however, is notably missing- Israel.
With less than a month to go before the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final, preparations in the host city of Vienna are in full swing. Today (Friday), a new initiative set to run throughout May across the city was announced. In a collaboration between the Austrian broadcaster ORF and the Association of Viennese Coffee House Owners, twenty local cafes will transform into meeting hubs for Eurovision fans from various countries. The participating nations have been distributed among these 20 cafes, with one notable exception: Israel, which is not represented by any of them. Is this due to security concerns or a different underlying message? All the details in the full article.
From May 3rd to May 17th, the many Eurovision fans expected in Vienna will be able to visit one of the 20 traditional Viennese cafes selected to become “Eurofan Cafes” across the city. The Austrian broadcaster ORF, in collaboration with the media company “Echo” and the Association of Viennese Coffee House Owners, decided to turn the Viennese coffee house culture into an international experience, blending the Eurovision spirit with local tradition.
Each Eurovision country was assigned a representative cafe, every country, that is, except for Israel. Although the official announcement for the “Eurofan Cafe” claimed that the establishments were chosen to represent all 35 participating countries, in practice, only 34 nations appear on the list. One can only wonder who made the decision to exclude Israel, despite the ongoing insistence on its place in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Israel’s Baffling Exclusion
The most plausible explanation for Israel’s exclusion from this initiative is the security implications of such an event. Every year, and especially since the events of October 7th, the Israeli delegation is accompanied by a massive security detail due to concerns over harassment and potential terror attacks. A Viennese cafe branded with Israeli themes could have become an obvious target for terrorism or antisemitic harassment from those opposing Israel’s participation in the contest. Operating such a location would likely have required permanent security, a cost that neither ORF nor the Israeli delegation were probably eager to cover. Furthermore, the cafe owners involved in the initiative might have been reluctant to commit to an Israeli-themed establishment, considering the potential risks to their staff, owners, and business reputation.
Despite these speculations, the true reason for Israel’s exclusion remains unclear, particularly as the initiative is organized by the Austrian broadcaster ORF, the host of Eurovision 2026, which has insisted on Israel remaining in the competition throughout the year. Does this exclusion stand as a legitimate security measure, or does it contradict the values of the contest by consciously choosing to sideline one nation out of all others?
What to expect at the cafes?
Each participating cafe across the city has been assigned one or two countries to “represent.” The idea is for Eurovision fans from these nations to visit the cafe dedicated to their country and connect with fellow enthusiasts. Some of the cafes will offer special food and drinks from their respective countries for sale, while also hosting unique Eurovision events throughout the month of May. Additionally, the Eurovision 2026 mascot, Euri, is expected to visit the various cafes on certain days, giving fans the chance to take photos together.
The full list of cafes and the countries they represent:
Café Museum – Croatia, Latvia
Kunze Coffee – Switzerland
Café Eiles – Estonia, Italy
Café Weimar – Malta, Poland
Café Diglas – Belgium, Montenegro
Café Mozart – Sweden, Cyprus
Crossfields – Australia
Most Humble Servant – Finland
Café Français – Georgia
Café Phil – Bulgaria
Café Sluka – Norway
Café Landtmann – San Marino, United Kingdom
Chattanooga – Ukraine
Café Frauenhuber – Armenia, Greece
Gerstner – Denmark, Austria
Schopenhauer – Romania, Serbia
Schwarzenberg – Albania, Czechia
Café Hummel – Azerbaijan, Germany
Café Sperl – France, Lithuania
Café Goldegg – Luxembourg, Portugal
Eurovision 2026: the 70th edition of the contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026. The Wiener Stadthalle arena, which will host the event, is expected to accommodate around 16,000 spectators per show. The contest returns to Austria following the nation’s third historic win with the song “Wasted Love”, performed by JJ. It will be Austria’s third time hosting Eurovision, after previous editions held in the country in 1967 and 2015.
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Writer and content creator at EuroMix, providing cultural insights into the world of Eurovision. Talor is a second-generation Eurovision enthusiast who grew up attending family viewing parties. The 1999 Eurovision, at just five years old, was the event that shaped his love for the contest. He holds a BA degree in Culture – Creation and Production, and his articles combine academic knowledge with a passion for pop and trash, appreciating humor and clever references in the competition’s songs. He specializes in cultural and social analysis, offering in-depth commentary.
Outside the Eurovision world, Talor works as an independent content and media manager.
