Eurovision faces protests and withdrawals as Vienna hosts smallest field since 2003

A field of 35 contestants and a ring of tight security made Eurovision’s 70th edition look less like a carefree pop spectacle than a referendum on Europe’s fractures. Vienna hosted the grand final at Wiener Stadthalle on May 16, with 25 acts in the last show and Austria back as host for only the third time, after 1967 and 2015.

The reduced lineup was the smallest since 2003, and the lowest since the contest’s semifinal format began in 2004. Five broadcasters withdrew in protest after the European Broadcasting Union allowed Israel to remain in the competition: Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain. The withdrawals cut against Eurovision’s image as a broad, pan-European celebration and exposed how sharply the war in Gaza has reshaped the politics around the contest.

Vienna police said before the final that they expected demonstrations to include blockades and disruption attempts, and described Eurovision as one of the biggest security events they had faced. That warning proved justified. On May 16, thousands marched in Vienna against Israel’s participation, with organizers saying turnout surpassed 5,000. Police lined the route, and a helicopter circled overhead as the march moved through the city.

The pressure reached inside the arena as well. During one semifinal, four people were ejected after trying to interrupt Israel’s performance, underscoring how the contest’s stage had become a flashpoint beyond the music itself. The EBU has maintained that Eurovision remains a celebration of music and artistry, but critics argue that Israel’s presence is incompatible with the contest’s values while the humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to drive public anger.

The 2026 contest was confirmed by the EBU on December 15, 2025, and the final lineup included the host nation Austria alongside the so-called Big Five, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, which were all prequalified for the final. But with withdrawals, protests and security concerns dominating the build-up in Vienna, the message from Eurovision’s 70th edition was unmistakable: even a format built around spectacle cannot easily escape the politics surrounding it.