Eurovision Announces Flags And Booing Plans For 2026 Song Contest

As controversy continues to shroud the Eurovision Song Contest, organisers have announced that they’ll be doing things a little differently at next year’s event.

For the last few years, Eurovision has been at the centre of debate over Israel’s continued participation, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, prompting calls for a boycott from many critics.

Earlier this month, a debate took place among competing broadcasters to determine whether Israel should be expelled from Eurovision, similarly to how Russia was banned from taking part after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Ultimately, it was decided that Israel would remain part of Eurovision, with five nations’ broadcasters having already withdrawn from the event in protest.

Last year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Basel raised eyebrows among fans when it was announced that a policy was being introduced stating attendees could only wave flags of competing nations and the standard six-stripe Pride flag, effectively banning Palestinian flags – as well as the transgender, bisexual, non-binary and Progress Pride flags – from the arena.

Questions were also raised at the time about whether technology was being used to disguise any boos in the room towards Israel.

However, on Tuesday, Austrian broadcaster ORF insisted that “all official flags that exist in the world” will be allowed in next year’s Eurovision arena, so long as they “comply with the law” and do not pose a security risk.

ORF also maintained that they will not be censoring any boos that can be heard during next year’s live event.

“We will not sugarcoat anything or avoid showing what is happening, because our task is to show things as they are,” executive producer Michael Kroen said during a press conference (as reported by The Independent).

The Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all pulled out of Eurovision shortly after the decision about Israel was confirmed, with Iceland following suit later.

Eurovision will take place in Vienna in May 2026, following Austrian singer JJ’s win earlier this year.

Shortly after his victory, JJ backed calls for Israel to be banned from competing at Eurovision, with his predecessor Nemo having now pledged to return their winning trophy in protest of organisers’ decision.