“Dumb and pointless”: Austria slams Eurovision 2026 boycott over ‘Israel’ participation

With a growing number of countries threatening to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, host nation Austria has taken a stance against the mounting pressure to exclude ‘Israel’.

A senior Austrian official has publicly denounced the boycotts as "dumb and pointless".

Read more: Poland’s Culture Minister calls for Eurovision boycott if ‘Israel’ competes

State Secretary Josef Schellhorn, whose portfolio includes foreign culture, stated in an interview with the Austrian newspaper Kurier that such actions are ineffective and "do not get us anywhere".

He added that while countries like Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia have the democratic right to decide their participation, Austria as the host nation must "endure it" if they choose to withdraw.

His sentiment was echoed by State Secretary Alexander Pröll, who said that "art thrives on dialogue, openness, and diversity" and that no artist should be "held responsible, defamed, or excluded for the politics of their home country".

The country's public broadcaster, ORF, is in complete alignment with this official government position.

Its director general, Roland Weißmann, has been vocal in his support for ‘Israel's’ continued participation, a stance also backed by the ORF's Board of Trustees.

In an official statement, ORF emphasized that “music and artistic performances are at the heart of Eurovision.”

Read more: Australia refuses Eurovision boycott over ‘Israel’ participation amid European protests

The stance from Vienna stands in stark contrast to the initial position of Austria's 2025 winning artist, J.J., whose victory brought the contest to Vienna.

In an interview with the Spanish outlet El País, J.J. had called for ‘Israel's’ suspension from the competition, stating his hope that the 2026 contest would be held without ‘Israel’.

He urged fellow artists to "raise our voices on the matter," acknowledging that the final decision rested with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

However, the artist walked back his comments on social media just one day later, apologizing if his words were "misunderstood". The host broadcaster ORF quickly issued a clarification, stating that J.J.'s comments were "his personal opinion and are not connected to ORF".

The EBU has extended the deadline for countries to confirm their participation until mid-December to allow for a consultation process with its members .