Ιn an interview, the Director General of ORF, Roland Weißmann, confirmed Austria’s support for Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026.

Austria is now arguably the most assured country expected to back Israel’s participation at the upcoming November assembly. In recent statements, the Director General of Austria’s public broadcaster emphasized that ORF firmly supports KAN’s involvement in the contest, reaffirming his country’s steadfast position regarding Israel’s potential withdrawal.

Your slogan for the Eurovision Song Contest at Vienna’s Stadthalle is “impressive yet economical.” However, more and more countries and broadcasters, such as the BBC, are openly threatening to boycott if Israel participates. What is your stance on the EBU’s decision to allow its members to vote on Israel’s participation, and will the Eurovision Song Contest take place in Vienna without Israel?

As I have advocated within the EBU for months, and recently expressed again to the EBU Supervisory Board: ORF unequivocally supports the participation of the Israeli public broadcaster KAN in the Eurovision Song Contest. I stand by this position and will continue to do so, especially given Austria’s history. However, the decision ultimately rests with the EBU, where all members are now called to conduct a secret ballot.

Diplomatic initiatives to keep Israel in the contest.

Israel’s participation is not only a concern for ORF officials; recently, statements from Austrian government officials and public authorities have intensified on the matter, in an effort to prevent a possible boycott. Last week, Austria’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Sepp (Josef) Schellhorn, called on ORF and the EBU not to succumb to pressure or blackmail to exclude Israel. A day later, the country’s Foreign Minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, sent a letter to her counterparts in Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, and Belgium, making a personal appeal to change their stance, warning of possible rifts and divisions among European states.

Austria’s position highlights the divergence of opinions among European countries, foreshadowing a potentially unpredictable November assembly, where the final decision on Israel’s participation in the contest is expected to be made.

Source: Kronen Zeitung

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