The drama surrounding Eurovision’s 70th edition in Vienna doesn’t seem to stop, as fresh confusion has emerged between ORF and RTVE over alleged talks regarding Israel’s participation.
ORF defends Israel’s participation
According to Cadena SER, ORF Director-General Roland Weißmann told reporters that Austria is engaging in conversations with broadcasters such as Spain, Ireland and Slovenia to address concerns around Israel’s participation at Eurovision 2026.
Weißmann reportedly said:
- ORF is entering “a moment of diplomacy within the EBU,”
- public broadcasters would vote in December on new rules for the Contest, which include changes such as the return of juries to the Semi-Finals,
- and that Austria is trying to ensure that “as many broadcasters as possible” take part in Vienna next May, especially as Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova have already returned for 2026.
He also commented on future participation hopes, expressing enthusiasm for a possible Canadian debut, following Canada’s federal budget announcement that it is exploring participation in Eurovision.
RTVE Director-General responds: “We haven’t received any call”
Spain’s reaction, however, has made headlines.
RTVE President José Pablo López firmly refuted claims of any such discussions. Posting on X, he wrote:
“We haven’t received any call here. The President of Austria’s public broadcaster has met with the President of Israel, which says a lot about the Contest’s politicisation.
I thought broadcasters, not countries, were the ones taking part. That’s what the EBU keeps insisting. No shame.”
His statement directly contradicts reports suggesting Austria had been in touch regarding Spain’s stance.
The wider EBU picture
This dispute comes at a delicate moment for the EBU. In recent weeks:
- The planned November vote on Israel’s participation was cancelled in late September.
- The EBU confirmed that Israel will remain in the lineup for Vienna 2026 unless member broadcasters demand a formal vote during the December General Assembly.
- Several broadcasters (Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, the Netherlands and Iceland) have all stated they would withdraw if Israel competes. Belgium has said it will wait for December’s outcome before deciding.
- The EBU has been in talks with Kazakhstan and Canada as it explores new potential participants for the Contest’s 70th anniversary.
Despite the ongoing tensions, the return of Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova ensures that the number of competing broadcasters will remain high even if withdrawals occur.
The road to Vienna’s 70th edition is looking more unpredictable than ever.
The story of Eurovision 2026 so far
The journey to the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest kicked off immediately following JJ’s win in Basel, when Austria’s ORF accepted the rights to host the 70th edition of the contest. The bidding process started in June, with interested cities having until July 4 to submit their bid book. Innsbruck and Vienna were shortlisted, with the latter winning the right to host next year’s contest.
As for the organisation of the competition, the ‘core team‘ was revealed in June 2025, with further details about next year’s competition to be revealed in due course. The shows will take place on May 12th, 14th and 16th.
What do you think of José Pablo López’s words? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
News Source: Cadena SER, RTVE
Photo Credit: RTVE
Euan T 
Samantha 
Giwrgos Oiko