Eurovision announces it won't censor boos against Israel amid boycott calls

The Austrian public broadcaster ORF, host of the 2026 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, has confirmed it will not censor out any booing aimed at Israel’s performance, as has happened in previous competitions. 

The pop music spectacle, which attracts over 100 million viewers annually, is facing its biggest crisis to date over Israel’s inclusion despite growing international boycott calls and high-profile walkouts.

Five European countries, including Spain and the Netherlands, have already said they will boycott the event over Israel's presence due to the genocide in Gaza. 

Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, ORF’s director of programming, said on Tuesday that the sound of any booing from the crowd would not be drowned out - a practice observed during Israel's performance in this year's semi-final performance by Yuval Raphael.

"We won't play artificial applause over it at any point," she said.

The competition's organisers in 2024 had denied that booing from the audience was censored after online accusation following Israel's performance at the semi-finals.

The ORF also said that it will allow the audience to wave "all official flags" so long as they comply with security parametres, widely interpreted to mean the Palestinian flag would not be banned - a continuation of the policy from this year.

The competition's organisers received fierce backlash in 2024 for banning Palestinians flags in the audience.

With growing fears that the boycott calls will cast a shadow on the 70th edition of the song contest, the show's executive producer, Michael Kroen, said they aim to not "sugarcoat anything or avoid showing what is happening, because our task is to show things as they are".

The announcement follows intensifying pressure on the contest’s organisers after Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Netherlands and most recently Iceland walked out of next year’s contest following official confirmation earlier this month of Israel's participation.

"Participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk,” said Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE.

Embroiled in diplomatic tension, the contest’s organisers announced on Monday the contest will have 35 participants, the lowest ever participation since 2003. 

Online, Eurovision fans and artists have continued to express their disappointment and declared their decision to boycott the contest next year, citing Israel’s genocide in Gaza and accusing the organisers of whitewashing the country responsible.

“Seeing the Eurovision participants list without Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands just seems unreal.... And for what?! To protect a country literally committing the most publicly documented genocide in all of history,” wrote one user on X.

Seeing the Eurovision participants list without Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands just seems unreal.... And for what?! To protect a country literally committing the most publicly documented genocide in all of history. Disappointed is a massive understatement. pic.twitter.com/ReHhGlwQdE

— TheBalkanGuy (@TheBalkanGuy) December 15, 2025

“The contest was repeatedly used to soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing, all while the EBU insisted Eurovision is ‘non-political’," said Nemo, the winner of Eurovision 2024 in an official statement after returning the trophy last week in protest of Israel’s participation.

Others accuse the EBU of  hypocrisy for banning Russia from the contest in February 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine, while allowing Israel to compete.

If Russia can be kicked out of Eurovision, for occupying a small part of a country for a few years, then Israel can be given the boot for occupying an entire nation for 77 years.

— Joss Sheldon (@JossSheldon) December 9, 2025

In a similar attempt to assuage concerns over Israel's inclusion, the organisers announced new measures to tighten rules around voting last month to "discourage disproportionate promotion campaigns" particularly if "undertaken or supported by third parties, including governments".

At this year's contest, controversy arose when Israel topped the public vote, prompting calls from several countries to reexamine the results, and accusations of vote manipulation. 

Landing photo: An audience member waves the Palestinian flag while Israeli singer Yuval Raphael performs during the dress rehearsal for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel on 16 May 2025 (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)