میدل-ایست-آیEurovision announces it won't censor boos against Israel amid boycott calls
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.
