Palestinian flag raised during ‘Israeli’ performance at Eurovision final
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- Audience member raised a Palestinian flag directly in front of the stage during Eden Golan’s performance.
- The incident unfolded during the Eurovision grand final amid ongoing controversy over ‘Israel’s’ participation.
A member of the audience raised a Palestinian flag directly in front of the stage during the performance of ‘Israeli’ artist Eden Golan at the Eurovision Song Contest grand final in Vienna, in a visible act of protest during one of the evening’s most closely watched performances.
The incident took place as Golan represented ‘Israel’ in the final, with footage from inside the venue capturing the moment as the singer continued her performance uninterrupted.
Best shot from Eurovision! pic.twitter.com/FQgfzbHN0G
— Jason Reid (@JasonReidx) May 16, 2026
Event security did not immediately intervene, and organisers have not issued a formal statement regarding the incident.
The flag display comes amid heightened political controversy surrounding ‘Israel’s’ participation in this year’s Eurovision.
The competition has faced mounting criticism and boycott calls from activists and several broadcasters over the ongoing war in Gaza, with demonstrations taking place outside the venue throughout the week.
The European Broadcasting Union has defended ‘Israel’s’ inclusion, maintaining that Eurovision is a non-political event.
