LAST UPDATE | 16 May

Daragh Brophy reporting from Vienna

OVER 2,000 PEOPLE have taken part in a march protesting the presence of the Eurovision in Vienna, with the route taking demonstrators around three city blocks away from the song contest venue. 

Police were out in force as the groups taking part gathered at a square around a kilometre from the Wiener Stadhalle before making their way along a route to the west of the arena.

The event, organised by Palestine Solidarity Austria, was due to finish up with speeches in a local park. 

Dozens of police vehicles, many with their engines running, were parked in streets around the gathering spot for the protest at Christian-Broda-Platz as the demonstration began. 

Lines of police officers walked alongside the march as it set off, as a police helicopter circled overhead. 

Lisa Hasenbichler, one of the spokespeople for the protest, said those taking part believed that by hosting Eurovision, Austria had become “complicit in the crimes of Israel”. 

Lisa Hasenbichler, one of the organisers of today's protest, on the message the demonstrators want to send to Eurovision. pic.twitter.com/xCy8r5jUn6

— Daragh Brophy (@DaraghBroph) May 16, 2026

A small number of Irish people resident in Vienna took part in the protest, including around 20 members of the local Irish Bloc group. 

Lorka Ó hAnnracháin, one of the group’s members, said Irish flags were a frequent sight at pro-Gaza events in the city. Authorities in Vienna, he said, had typically been “hostile” to the Palestinian cause in the past, “but the city is becoming less hostile to the cause – it’s waking up I’d say”. 

Statements from the city’s police in recent weeks have stressed that Austrian law puts very few restrictions on public gatherings or protests, but that officers would be on standby to intervene if needed.

A spokesperson said today’s event was a registered protest, adding: “Vienna police are out in force for the event and the demonstrations with a large contingent. In uniform as well as in civilian.”

Much larger anti-Eurovision protest today in Vienna... the march is set to pass within a few hundred metres of the arena. Large police presence with dozens of vehicles and helicopter overhead. pic.twitter.com/PUcL0iC0MY

— Daragh Brophy (@DaraghBroph) May 16, 2026

Protests aren’t allowed in the immediate area around the arena, where there’s also a heavy security presence as fans begin to queue ahead of the Grand Final.

Israel will perform third in the running order tonight. Producers have said they’re making no changes to the way the show is run, after mics picked up clear anti-Israel chants during the Tuesday night semi-final show.

Director General of Austrian broadcaster ORF, Ingrid Thurnher, asked for a response to this afternoon's anti-Eurovision protest... pic.twitter.com/EL0xb8p0JT

— Daragh Brophy (@DaraghBroph) May 16, 2026

Eurovision organisers the European Broadcasting Union have repeatedly defended the contest as a competition between national broadcasters and not nations. 

Asked about the protest at the Eurovision press centre this afternoon, Ingrid Thurnier, the director general of Austrian host broadcaster ORF, said everyone had a right to be heard, but that tonight should be about the performers taking part in the contest.

Five national broadcasters, including Ireland’s RTÉ, are boycotting this year’s Eurovision in protest over Israel’s presence. 

Finland remain favourites to seal the win tonight, with Australia’s Delta Goodrem second favourite. Eurovision experts reckon there’s also a strong chance of an Israeli win, which would likely lead to additional countries boycotting next year. 

Vienna police said this evening that the protest had concluded “without incident”.