Eurovision opens under shadow of Gaza war

The Eurovision Song Contest opened in Vienna on Tuesday under mounting political tension, with protests planned across the Austrian capital and five countries boycotting the competition over Israel's participation amid the ongoing Gaza war.

The annual music extravaganza, traditionally known for its flamboyant performances, colourful staging and celebration of European pop culture, has become deeply overshadowed by geopolitical divisions linked to Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Public broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia have withdrawn from this year's contest in protest against Israel's inclusion, reducing the competition to 35 entries - the smallest Eurovision field since 2003. The boycott is also expected to dent television audiences for one of the world's biggest live entertainment events. Last year's contest drew an estimated 166 million viewers worldwide, surpassing even the audience figures for the Super Bowl.

Hours before Tuesday evening's first semi-final, demonstrators were expected to gather in central Vienna for a pro-Palestinian protest anticipated to attract around 500 people. Austrian police said additional demonstrations, including spontaneous protests, could take place throughout the week, especially during Saturday's grand final.

Security has been significantly tightened around the event, with authorities seeking to prevent disruptions while maintaining public order in the city. Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig vowed the contest would proceed despite the tensions, reacting angrily last week after pro-Palestinian activists interrupted a public concert where he was speaking.

"We will not let ourselves be terrorised into silence," Ludwig said, adding that extensive security measures had become necessary because of the political climate surrounding the event. He promised Vienna would still deliver "a festival of togetherness" despite the protests and heightened tensions.

The remarks sparked criticism from rights advocates, including Amnesty International Austria. Its co-director Shoura Hashemi accused the mayor of making "false" and "divisive" comments targeting peaceful demonstrators.

Austria's political establishment has broadly maintained strong support for Israel since the outbreak of the war, while pro-Palestinian protests in the country have remained relatively small compared with demonstrations elsewhere in Europe.

Irish broadcaster RTE reiterated its earlier position that participation in this year's Eurovision would have been "unconscionable" given the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Despite the controversy and boycott, Eurovision organisers insisted they hoped participating broadcasters that withdrew this year would eventually return to the competition.

Contest director Martin Green described the absent countries as "members of our family" and said organisers remained in dialogue to find "pathways for them back."