A small anti-Israel protest is being held in central Vienna, Austria, ahead of the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Only around a dozen people appear to be in attendance at the event, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Austria group. The protesters chant “No stage for genocide” and hold up signs calling for Israel to be barred from the competition.
The activists have arranged a number of small fake coffins with photos of children on them to represent those killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
Larger anti-Israel protests are slated for both Friday and Saturday in Vienna, with at least hundreds of participants expected. A small pro-Israel protest is also expected in the city on Thursday.
Israel’s Noam Bettan will hit the stage tonight in the first semifinal with his song “Michelle,” aiming to advance to Saturday night’s grand final.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2026
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