Eurovision crisis: Austrian broadcaster announces it will not censor Palestinian flags or mute boos

Eurovision organisers have announced that a total of 35 countries would take part in the world's biggest live televised music event in May.

This represents the fewest number of entries since 2003, when entry was expanded, now that five national broadcasters - Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland – have withdrawn over the maintained participation of Israel.

These nations argue that participation would be "unconscionable" given the civilian casualties in Gaza, stemming from Israel's response to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas.

There’s little doubt that despite the slogan “United by Music”, the dipomatic tensions and boycotts will cast a shadow over next year's contest.

Now, Austrian public broadcaster ORF, host of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, has responded to the protests by confirming it will not prohibit the Palestinian flag in the audience nor censor any booing directed at Israel's performance.

The show's executive producer, Michael Kroen, stated that all official flags are permitted.

"We will allow all official flags that exist in the world, if they comply with the law and are in a certain form - size, security risks, etc,” said Kroen, adding: " We will not sugarcoat anything or avoid showing what is happening, because our task is to show things as they are."

Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, ORF’s director of programming, confirmed that the sound of any booing from the crowd would not be censored or drowned out - a practice observed during Israel's performance in this year's contest.

"We won't play artificial applause over it at any point," she said.

There's a long way to go until May, and the 70th anniversary of Eurovision promises to be one of the most divisive yet.

Recently, Swiss and Irish Eurovision winners Nemo and Charlie McGettigan have announced their plans to return their winner’s trophies in protest of Israel’s participation.

Nemo, who won Eurovision last year, said in a statement: "Eurovision says it stands for unity, inclusion, and dignity for all. Those values made this contest meaningful to me. But Israel's continued participation, during what the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded to be a genocide, shows a clear conflict between those ideals and the decisions made by the EBU."

Nemo added that when countries withdraw, "it should be clear that something is deeply wrong".

As for McGettigan, who won the contest with fellow Irish singer Paul Harrington in 1994, he said that Nemo had contacted him to explain their decision to return the 2024 trophy.

“They came across as sincere and a very intelligent person and stated their case really well, and therefore in support of Nemo, I would like to return my trophy to the EBU as well," said McGettigan. "Unfortunately, our win was way back in 1994 and I can’t lay my hands on whatever trophy we received back then, but if I do find it, I will return my trophy as well."

Next year’s Eurovision will take place in Vienna on 16 May 2026.