Following Ceasefire Agreement: Vote on Expelling Israel from Eurovision 2026 May Be Postponed!

Following Ceasefire Agreement: Vote on Expelling Israel from Eurovision 2026 May Be Postponed!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ORF announced the vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 may be delayed or canceled due to a hostage release deal and war’s end Against the backdrop of reports about a deal to end the war, it was revealed today (Thursday) that the vote regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, to be held in Vienna, Austria, may be postponed or even canceled. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria finds itself at the center of a political storm ahead of Eurovision 2026 due to uncertainty over Israel’s participation in the upcoming contest in Vienna. U.S. President Donald Trump announced last night a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. According to a report by the Austrian newspaper Der Standard, ORF faces a dilemma worth €40 million: whether to refuse hosting the major event if Israel is ultimately barred from participating. After Austria’s victory in the last Eurovision in Basel, ORF took on significant responsibility and committed...
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Austrian Chancellor Threatens: Vienna Will Not Host Eurovision 2026 if Israel Is Excluded

Austrian Chancellor Threatens: Vienna Will Not Host Eurovision 2026 if Israel Is Excluded

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Chancellor issues a bold warning: Vienna will withdraw from hosting Eurovision 2026 if Israel is banned, sparking major diplomatic waves and raising Israel’s prospects for participation. A major diplomatic bombshell shakes the Eurovision stage: amid the ongoing debate surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, a firm statement of support has arrived from one of the most crucial places — the host country itself. Austria’s Chancellor has declared unequivocally that without Israel in the competition, Vienna will not host the event. What could this mean for Eurovision’s future and for Israel’s participation? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker and State Secretary Alexander Proll made an official announcement stating that if a boycott against Israel is enforced, they will pressure the national broadcaster and the City of Vienna to withdraw their hosting of Eurovision 2026. In a statement from their party, OVP, they emphasized: “It makes no sense that we, of all people, would prevent a Jewish artist from coming to...
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Austria’s ORF CEO: Full Support for Israel’s Participation in Eurovision

Austria’s ORF CEO: Full Support for Israel’s Participation in Eurovision

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria, the host country of Eurovision 2026, declares strong support for Israel against boycott threats, ahead of November’s decisive vote. The diplomatic battle over Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 has taken a dramatic turn with an unprecedented statement from one of the key stakeholders: the host country. In an interview with the local press, Roland Weißmann, CEO of Austrian broadcaster ORF, put an end to speculation and made it unequivocally clear that the national broadcaster fully supports the participation of Israel’s broadcaster "KAN" in the contest, which will be held in Vienna. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "Support Arises from Austria’s History" In an interview with Austrian newspaper Krone, when asked directly about growing boycott threats from other countries and broadcasters (such as the BBC), Weißmann did not hesitate. He revealed that his stance has been presented for months in various European Broadcasting Union (EBU) forums, and declared without reservation: “As I have represented in the EBU for months, and...
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He’s Back: Cesár Sampson Will Help Select Austria’s Entry for Eurovision 2026

He’s Back: Cesár Sampson Will Help Select Austria’s Entry for Eurovision 2026

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Cesár Sampson joins the team selecting participants for the 2026 Austrian national selection. what kind of songs is he looking for? Austria is preparing to host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna: the Austrian national broadcaster ORF will hold, for the first time in a decade, an open national final to determine the country’s entry for the contest. The broadcaster has enlisted Cesár Sampson to assist with the complex mission of finding participants for “Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich” (in English: Vienna Calling – Who Will Sing for Austria?), from which one act will earn the honor of representing Austria on home soil in Vienna. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Cesár Sampson Will Choose Austria’s National Selection Participants Cesár Sampson, who represented Austria in Eurovision 2018 and secured third place with "Nobody But You", revealed in an interview with Austrian station Ö3 that he will help select the songs competing for the right to represent...
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Austria Officially Supports Israel’s Participation in Eurovision 2026

Austria Officially Supports Israel’s Participation in Eurovision 2026

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s ORF and governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner back Israel’s Eurovision 2026 participation, opposing boycott threats and affirming Vienna’s role as host. The board of directors of Austria’s national broadcaster, ORF, voted by majority in favor of Israel’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The decision, taken on Thursday, follows a public statement by ORF CEO Ronald Weissmann, who said he "hopes to see Israel participate in the contest". This endorsement is considered crucial, especially against boycott threats voiced by Slovenia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and other countries. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Political Support from Austria for Israel The decision by ORF is more than a symbolic move—it represents a concrete stance within the contest itself, positioning Austria, the host country, as a firm ally of Israel amid growing boycott calls. Substantial reinforcement came from Lower Austria’s governor, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, who not only joined in support but also openly opposed boycott threats from other states. Her involvement underscores Austria’s...
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The Host Aims for a Double: Austria’s Eurovision 2026 Entry to Be Selected on February 20th

The Host Aims for a Double: Austria’s Eurovision 2026 Entry to Be Selected on February 20th

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria will pick its Eurovision 2026 act during the national final “Vienna Calling” on February 20th, through combined jury and public votes from 12 finalists. After the victory of JJ at Eurovision 2025, Austria has begun preparations for choosing its representative for Eurovision 2026, set to take place in its capital, Vienna, on May 16th. The national broadcaster ORF has announced that the show “Vienna Calling – Who Will Sing for Austria?” will be held on February 20th, 2026, and broadcast live on ORF1. The selected act will be decided jointly by the jury and the public, from among 12 chosen candidates who will perform on that evening. The submission window has already opened and will close on October 15th, 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Rules for Participation According to ORF, the rules governing participation include: Songs must not have been commercially released or performed before September 1st, 2025 (including live shows or publication...
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Austria: JJ Will Not Host Eurovision 2026 In Vienna!

Austria: JJ Will Not Host Eurovision 2026 In Vienna!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria in Eurovision: Eurovision 2025 winner JJ will not host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. Instead, he was given a different role in the show. The singer JJ, Austria’s Eurovision 2025 winner with the song “Wasted Love”, who became a controversial figure at home after remarks about Israel’s participation in the contest, will not host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. Many fans had hoped the reigning champion would be given the honor of hosting the next contest, but today it was officially confirmed that this will not happen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); It should be recalled that after his victory, JJ sparked uproar when he declared in an interview: “I hope the competition next year will take place in Vienna – without Israel”. He also criticized the Eurovision voting system, calling for more transparency from the EBU - a move seen by many as hypocritical, since the competition is meant to be apolitical. Despite this, many fans expressed disappointment that JJ will not be hosting Eurovision 2026....
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After Terror Threats: Austria to Boost Security at Eurovision 2026!

After Terror Threats: Austria to Boost Security at Eurovision 2026!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Following last year’s attempted attack during Taylor Swift’s concert in Vienna, Austria is preparing to tighten security for Eurovision 2026. How will the measures be implemented? The excitement in Vienna is reaching its peak: Preparations for Eurovision 2026 are moving ahead at full speed, and the Austrian national broadcaster ORF has now unveiled the first details and the visual concept of the Eurovillage, the official celebration hub of the contest. The Austrian authorities and the EBU have decided to establish an enhanced security system that will cover all Eurovision events – from the Eurovision Village to the “Turquoise Carpet”, and up to the main arena hosting both the semi-finals and the grand final. The reinforcement of security comes in the wake of an attempted terrorist attack during Taylor Swift’s concert in Vienna last year, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the performance in its entirety. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In May 2026, the Wiener Stadthalle will be transformed into an especially...
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Austria Opens Song Submissions Window for Eurovision Pre-Selection 2026

Austria Opens Song Submissions Window for Eurovision Pre-Selection 2026

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ahead of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, the Austrian national broadcaster ORF has launched the open song submission window for the national selection. The winner will represent Austria on home soil.  Austria is energetically preparing for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on its territory—not only in terms of hosting, but also regarding the next song that will represent it in Vienna. For the first time in a decade, Austria’s representative and entry will be chosen via an open national selection, set for late February 2026 and featuring both jury and public voting. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s National Selection Returns in 2026 In an Instagram post, Hitradio Ö3 of the Austrian national broadcaster ORF confirmed that the song submission window for Eurovision 2026 is now officially open. Austria will use this open selection format for the first time since 2016. A total of ten contestants will be selected to perform on stage, with the winner granted...
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So Where Will We Celebrate Eurovision 2026 in Vienna?

So Where Will We Celebrate Eurovision 2026 in Vienna?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Vienna, Austria’s capital, will host Eurovision 2026 for the third time. Beyond the main event in Wiener Stadthalle, parties and celebrations will unfold in several historic city locations. With the announcement of Vienna as the host city for Eurovision 2026, more details have been revealed about the venues for concerts, official events, and Eurovision parties. To make it simple, here is a clear and structured overview of all the key information. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Main Venue: Wiener Stadthalle The central event will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena, with a capacity of around 16,000 spectators. This iconic venue also hosted Eurovision in 2015 and will once again welcome thousands of visitors during May 12–16. The live shows include the semifinals on May 12 and 14, and the Grand Final on May 16. This will mark the first time since 2018 that a host nation’s capital city also hosts Eurovision. The...
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