After an initial exclusion, the Austrian national broadcaster ORF adds Israel to the official “Euro cafe” list for Noam Bettan’s fans.
With only a few weeks remaining until the Grand Final of Eurovision 2026, preparations in the host city of Vienna are in full swing. Last week, the “Eurofan Cafe” initiative – organized by the Austrian national broadcaster ORF, the media company Echo, and the Association of Viennese Coffee House Owners – was first reported.
Throughout the month of May, local cafes across Vienna will transform into meeting points for Eurovision fans from various participating nations. Although the original publication of the event included all 34 other participating countries except for Israel, the organizing company Echo announced a last-minute correction today (Friday). The Israeli fan hub will be MQ Kantine, located in the city’s central Museumsquartier.
A week after the original publication by the Austrian national broadcaster ORF, a significant and critical update has arrived: Israel will also be included in the initiative aimed at bringing the Eurovision atmosphere to every street in the host city, Vienna. In addition to the 20 cafes already selected to represent one or two of the participating nations, the final cafe to participate in the initiative has been chosen: MQ Kantine, situated in the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna’s Neubau district. Questions remain as to whether the organizers decided to rectify the initial exclusion following a backlash, or if there was a delay in announcing the Israeli cafe due to security considerations.
The Israeli Cafe and the Focus on Music
Due to the Israeli connection, there is a tangible concern that the Viennese cafe could become a focal point for those protesting Israel’s participation in the contest during Eurovision week, leading to fears of demonstrations or vandalism. The owners of the cafe, clearly aware of these risks, issued a statement attempting to maintain neutrality and distance themselves from political messages.
In a statement released by the cafe owners, they noted that the Eurovision Song Contest represents the values of peace, unity, and international understanding. They added:
“In this spirit, MQ Kantine will become a ‘Eurofan Cafe’ from May 3rd to May 16th for fans of the Israeli singer Noam Bettan, who is participating in the contest with his song ‘Michelle'”.
The owners invited the fan community to joyful encounters, relaxed days, and fun evenings at the restaurant. They further emphasized:
“Everyone is warmly welcome, and we want to stress that this is not about politics; during these days, everything revolves around music, culture, eating, drinking, dancing, and singing together”.
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, Auri, 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 Diglas – Belgium, Montenegro
- Café Eiles – Estonia, Italy
- Café Français – Georgia
- Café Frauenhuber – Armenia, Greece
- Café Goldegg – Luxembourg, Portugal
- Café Hummel – Azerbaijan, Germany
- Café Landtmann – San Marino, United Kingdom
- Café Mozart – Cyprus, Sweden
- Café Museum – Croatia, Latvia
- Café Phil – Bulgaria
- Café Sluka – Norway
- Café Sperl – France, Lithuania
- Café Weimar – Malta, Poland
- Chattanooga – Ukraine
- Crossfields – Australia
- Gerstner – Austria, Denmark
- Kunze Coffee – Switzerland
- Most humble servant – Finland
- MQ Kantine – Israel
- Schopenhauer – Romania, Serbia
- Schwarzenberg – Albania, Czechia
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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Adi is a reporter and content creator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. A devoted fan since 2019, she possesses extensive knowledge of the competition’s history and evolution.
She holds a B.A. in Sociology and Political Science, loves music from all over the world, and is constantly praying for Hungary’s return to the contest.
