Eurovision 2026 Host Takes Unprecedented Stance on Protests
The Austrian broadcaster ORF, host of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, has announced a significant policy shift that will allow Palestinian flags in the audience and will not suppress booing during Israel's performance. This marks a departure from previous years where such expressions were reportedly censored or restricted.
In a press conference in Vienna, ORF executive producer Michael Krön stated: 'All official flags that exist in the world are allowed, provided they comply with the law and safety, and are in certain shape and size.' This policy represents a notable change from 2024 when Palestinian flags were banned at the contest in Sweden, and only flags of participating countries were permitted.
No Audio Manipulation Planned
Perhaps more significantly, ORF has committed to not manipulating audio during the broadcast. 'Our task is to show things as they are,' Krön emphasized. This means that if audience members boo during Israel's performance, those sounds will be heard on television broadcasts worldwide.
This contrasts sharply with previous editions where Israeli contestants faced significant hostility. In 2024, Eden Golan was booed during her performance in Malmö, and in 2025, Yuval Raphael faced similar treatment in Basel. However, television viewers heard minimal booing, leading to accusations that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had manipulated the audio feed to add artificial applause or suppress negative reactions.
ORF director Roland Weissmann addressed the controversy directly: 'We will not sugarcoat anything or avoid showing what is happening during the Song Contest.'
Political Context and Boycotts
The announcement comes amid ongoing controversy over Israel's participation in Eurovision. In early December 2025, five public broadcasters - AVROTROS (Netherlands), RTE (Ireland), RTVE (Spain), RÚV (Iceland), and RTVSLO (Slovenia) - announced they would boycott the 2026 contest in protest of Israel's inclusion.
These withdrawals followed an EBU meeting where members discussed Israel's participation but ultimately decided not to hold a vote on excluding the country. Instead, the EBU implemented 'targeted changes' to improve neutrality, though the specifics remain unclear.
The boycott has reduced the 2026 contest to just 35 participants - the smallest number since 2003 and before the introduction of semi-finals. 'We miss you,' Weissmann said about the absent countries. 'The door is always open and I hope the five countries will return in 2027.'
Historical Precedents and Reactions
The controversy extends beyond broadcasters. Switzerland's 2024 Eurovision winner Nemo recently returned their trophy in protest of Israel's participation. Several former contestants have also called for Israel's exclusion, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
This situation echoes previous political controversies at Eurovision. In 2022, Russia was excluded following its invasion of Ukraine. However, the current situation is more complex, with broadcasters divided rather than united in their response.
Germany and Austria had threatened to withdraw if Israel was excluded, creating a delicate balancing act for the EBU. The organization ultimately decided that all members who comply with competition rules are eligible to participate.
What This Means for Eurovision 2026
The 2026 contest will be held at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna from May 12-16. With ORF's new policy, viewers can expect a more transparent broadcast that doesn't hide audience reactions.
However, this approach raises questions about how the EBU will maintain its apolitical stance while allowing political expressions in the audience. The organization has traditionally tried to keep politics out of the contest, but recent years have seen this become increasingly difficult.
As one industry analyst noted: 'Eurovision has always been a cultural event with political undertones, but the 2026 edition may represent a turning point in how openly those politics are displayed.'
The decision also puts pressure on other broadcasters to decide whether they will follow ORF's lead in future contests or maintain more restrictive policies on audience expressions.
For more information on the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, visit the Wikipedia page.