70th Eurovision in Vienna Amid Israel Boycotts

The Eurovision Song Contest marks its 70th edition this week in Vienna, Austria, where singers and bands from 35 countries will compete from May 12 to 16 amid boycotts by several nations protesting Israel's participation.

The event, held at the Wiener Stadthalle for the third time in the Austrian capital, follows Austria's victory last year with singer JJ's pop-opera song "Wasted Love." Organizers expect strong global interest after 166 million viewers tuned in to the 2025 contest, with fans from 75 countries purchasing tickets for the live shows.

Political tensions have shadowed the competition, whose motto is "United by Music." Five countries—Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain—withdrew in December after the European Broadcasting Union decided to include Israel. Pro-Palestinian protests occurred at the 2024 event in Malmo, Sweden, and last year's in Basel, Switzerland, calling for Israel's exclusion over its war against Hamas in Gaza and alleged voting manipulation. Russia was expelled in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. Several protests are planned during Eurovision week in Vienna, while Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania have returned after previous...