"A senior Austrian official has denounced cultural boycotts as "dumb and pointless" after several countries said they will shun next year's Eurovision song contest in Vienna if Israel participates. Spain said this week it would boycott the world's largest live televised music event if Israel took part, and Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands have made similar threats. Austrian singer JJ won the competition's 2025 edition in May in Switzerland, securing Vienna the right to host next year's show."
"Spanish public broadcaster RTVE said Tuesday that Spain would boycott next year's Eurovision Song Contest if Israel takes part. It is the first of the so-called "Big Five" nations that provide the most funding for the event to do so. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organiser of Eurovision, is set to decide whether Israel will take part in the 2026 edition at its general assembly in December. This year's edition in Basel drew in 166 million viewers across 37 countries."
Several European countries have threatened to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna if Israel participates, with Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands among those making threats. Austria's 2025 winner JJ secured Vienna as host, prompting diplomatic concern. Senior foreign ministry official Sepp Schellhorn called cultural boycotts "dumb and pointless" and said he and the foreign minister will write to European counterparts to discourage boycotts. The European Broadcasting Union will decide Israel's participation at its December general assembly. Recent contests drew massive audiences and faced pro-Palestinian protests linked to the Gaza war.
Read at www.thelocal.at
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