Category: Austria

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “If you’re not wearing a skirt, you have no chance at Eurovision”: The Eurovision winner faces a wave of erasure and criticism. What’s behind the public rejection of JJ, and what does it reveal about Austrian society? About a week after JJ's victory in the Eurovision 2025 final, which secured Austria’s third win in the contest’s history, the nation is in turmoil. What was initially seen as a moment of national pride quickly turned into a political battleground, with public criticism focusing on the winner himself rather than the winning song. At the center of the uproar are JJ's statements against Israel’s participation in the contest, made during an interview shortly after his win. These remarks sparked intense reactions, yet most politicians who praised the singer at the time of his victory have since chosen to remain silent. One notable exception is Herbert Kickl, leader of the far-right "FPÖ" party, who gave a sharply critical interview to the Tiroler Tageszeitung. ...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Following Austria's recent Eurovision victory, ORF launches a formal process to select the 2026 host city. Which city will prove itself most suitable for the landmark event? Austria recently celebrated its triumph at Eurovision 2025, but for many, the real festivities are just beginning. Next week, the Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, will formally begin the process of selecting the city to host the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May 2026 in Austria. Official letters will be sent to each of the federal state governors, accompanied by a comprehensive 40-page document detailing the application requirements. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The First Stage: Inviting Cities to Submit Their Bids This complex document outlines stringent criteria: suitable venues in terms of size and infrastructure, accessible transport links - including proximity to international airports - and a hotel infrastructure capable of accommodating tens of thousands of visitors. Among the cities already mentioned are well-known...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A storm in Austria: Senior Austrian politician Johanna Mikl-Leitner harshly criticized Eurovision winner JJ, who called for Israel's exclusion from the contest, stating, "Anyone equating Israel with Russia needs an urgent history lesson." A significant controversy has erupted in Austria surrounding Eurovision 2025. The Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, sharply criticized the statements made by Eurovision winner JJ, who called for Israel's removal from the upcoming contest. According to Mikl-Leitner, a member of the center-right ÖVP party, "Anyone who seeks to boycott Israel and equates it with Russia, without mentioning the Hamas terror attack, urgently needs a history lesson". Her remarks were made in recent days amid a heated public debate about Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Mikl-Leitner, one of Austria's most prominent political figures, made it clear that, in her view, there is no place for Eurovision 2025 without Israel's participation. She emphasized that antisemitism, in any form, will not be tolerated in Europe and called for a...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria at Eurovision 2025: Just after the Eurovision winner harshly criticized Israel’s participation, he backtracks amid backlash, while the Austrian national broadcaster withdraws its support for him. Singer JJ, winner of Eurovision 2025 representing Austria with the song “Wasted Love,” chose to criticize and accuse Israel - the country that received the viewers’ support for the second consecutive year. In a particularly charged interview with the Spanish newspaper “El País”, known for its distinctly anti-Israel columns, the singer did not hold back his strong opinions regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision, sparking a new storm across Europe and among fans of the competition. According to him: “It is very disappointing that Israel is still participating in the contest. I hope next year it will be held in Vienna - and without Israel”. Now, JJ has decided to backtrack after facing harsh reactions. While he does not retract his stance on Israel’s participation in Eurovision, he clarifies: “I am sorry my words were misunderstood. Although...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s Eurovision 2025 winner sparked controversy by calling to ban Israel from the contest. Is this a legitimate stance or just calculated provocation? JJ, Austria’s representative and winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song “Wasted Love”, launched an unexpected attack on Israel, which once again secured the top spot in the public vote. But with JJ himself only placing fourth in that same vote, one must ask: is this a valid critique, or simply the arrogance of an artist unwilling to accept the people's verdict? In an interview with the Spanish newspaper "El País", JJ voiced strong opinions against Israel’s continued participation in the contest, sparking widespread outrage across Europe and among Eurovision fans. “It’s very disappointing that Israel is still taking part in the contest. I hope next year it takes place in Vienna – and without Israel”, He said. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Victory Through Jury Votes – and Immediate Accusations Following...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2025 broke records, surprised Europe, and delivered historic moments. What happened in Spain, Germany, Greece, and elsewhere, and which record was shattered during this dramatic final? The Eurovision 2025 Grand Final, held in Basel, Switzerland, on May 17, 2025, delivered not only dramatic musical moments but also exceptionally impressive viewership figures from numerous countries. What happened across Europe, and what does the complete viewership map look like? All the data is presented below. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Israel: Historic Record-Breaking Figures – For Yuval According to data from the public broadcaster Kan 11, no fewer than 939,000 people in Israel watched the Eurovision Grand Final-a remarkable figure representing a 32.6% rating, the highest among all channels that day and by a significant margin over competitors. However, the highlight came during the performance of Yuval Raphael-Israel's representative in the contest. At that very moment, a peak viewership of 51.3% was recorded. In other words, more than...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria at Eurovision: Austria prepares to host Eurovision after winning in 2025-find out which city will host, the expected dates, and which countries have already confirmed participation. After the victory of singer JJ with the song "Wasted Love" in the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final held in Basel, Switzerland-a win that marked Austria’s third-ever triumph in the contest-the country is preparing to host the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. While the exact location and final date have yet to be announced, several important details about Eurovision 2026 are already known. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); When Will Eurovision 2026 Take Place? Eurovision is expected to be held in May 2026, as is tradition each year. However, as of now, no official dates have been published for any of the stages. According to tradition, the contest will consist of three main evenings: First Semi-Final – Tuesday, 22:00 (Israel time) Second Semi-Final – Thursday, 22:00 Grand Final –...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria at Eurovision: As 2025 winner JJ processes his victory, Austria is gearing up for Eurovision 2026 and announces an internal selection for its next representative. Just hours after singer JJ triumphed in the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final with "Wasted Love," Austria is still absorbing its third win in the contest’s history. Now, the selection method for the country’s Eurovision 2026 representative has been revealed. According to an official announcement broadcast by the Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, Austria will once again choose its entrant through an internal selection process, similar to recent years-but with an interesting twist. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria’s Selection: Internal Process with a Twist In a recent interview on Austria’s public channel, Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, the content director, confirmed that Austria will again use an internal selection model, but this time will also allow for an open submission phase. This means that songwriters, composers, singers, and producers will be able to submit entries. Following...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria at Eurovision 2025: Just hours after its victory, Austria is already planning the next contest. What can we expect from Eurovision 2026? Austria is wasting no time looking back. Just hours after winning the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final, singer JJ-who clinched victory with the song "Wasted Love"-declared that he "feels like a dream has come true." Now, the first signs are emerging that this dream is set to continue: the Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, has officially announced that preparations for Eurovision 2026-set to be held in Austria-are already underway, unveiling a series of special programs to mark the country’s third win in the contest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austrians Move Fast: Work Began Immediately After the Victory Announcement Immediately after the broadcast ended in Basel, the Austrian national broadcaster ORF confirmed that preparations for the next Eurovision had already begun. A celebratory press conference featuring Roland Weißmann (CEO of the national broadcaster), Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz (Director of Programming), Stefan...