Eurovision fever hits host city Vienna
Thousands of fans filled the city as 35 delegations joined the turquoise-carpet parade and boycott calls grew over Israel's participation.
- On Sunday, Vienna hosted the 70th Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony, welcoming 35 delegations to City Hall Square ahead of the grand finale on May 16.
- Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia are boycotting the event to protest Israel's participation, citing Israel's bombardment of Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
- Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in central Vienna on Saturday, while German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said boycott calls made him "suffer"; hundreds of police remain deployed daily for security.
- Eurovision head Martin Green warned Israel's broadcaster KAN to stop urging viewers "to vote 10 times for Israel," citing rules against artificial voting. France's Monroe reported "positive energy" at the ceremony.
- Finland remains the heavy favorite with an entry pairing singer Pete Parkkonen and violinist Linda Lampenius, while the contest typically reaches more than 170 million viewers worldwide.
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11 Articles
On Sunday, the Eurovision Song Contest's festive turquoise carpet event took place in Vienna, opening the song contest, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
Selfies galore as Eurovision kicks off in Vienna
Eurovision kicked off in Vienna on Sunday, with thousands of fans flocking to the city for events and music ahead of the song contest's grand final next weekend, with renewed calls for a boycott over Israel's participation.
Vienna officially inaugurated the week of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with the traditional Opening Ceremony on the Rathausplatz (ANSA)
Nu drar Eurovison-veckan igång. På söndagen är det dags för öppningsceremoni med artistna.
“Such an awesome stage!” exclaims Piret Järvis-Milder (42), a member of the band Vanilla Ninja, on the turquoise carpet of the Eurovision opening ceremony. Kerli Kivilaan (33) and Lenna Kuurmaa (40) nod in agreement. “I wish I could get used to it so much that it would be awesome every time!” praises Lenna.
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