Eurovision 2026 will refuse artificial applause: what will change for viewers

According to glavcom.ua: The Austrian broadcaster ORF announced that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will take place in Vienna, will be held with updated rules for viewers. According to information from Reuters, the broadcaster has abandoned previous restrictions during the show.

During the performances of the participants, all official flags of the world will be allowed to be displayed, including the Palestinian flag during the performance of the participant from Israel. The organizers of the contest emphasized the importance of showing events as they really are.

'The goal of the contest is to show events as they really are,' said executive producer Michael Kroen.

The broadcaster will also not mute booing or other sounds from the audience. The director of ORF emphasized that they will not engage in 'artificial applause' and will not interfere with the audience's reactions.

Boycott of Eurovision 2026

Some countries, including Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands, plan to boycott Eurovision 2026 due to the participation of Israel. They called for the country to be excluded from the contest, but there was no vote at the general assembly.

Meanwhile, the European Broadcasting Union has introduced new rules to prevent disproportionate influence from governments and third parties on the voting. It is also planned to change the voting system to strengthen trust and engage the audience.

Changes in the rules for Eurovision 2026 include the display of official flags and the absence of mute on the audience during the performances of the participants. Some countries plan to boycott the contest due to the participation of Israel, while the European Broadcasting Union is taking steps to prevent political influence on the voting results.