Eurovision begins amid boycotts and massive police operation in Vienna
Eurovision fans have been descending on Vienna ahead of this week's event. (Reuters: Lisa Leutner)
The Eurovision Song Contest will burst onto the stage in Vienna this week, and millions of screens around the globe.
But behind the colour and campness, this year's competition is shaping up to be among the most politically charged in history.
National broadcasters in Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland — which are responsible for sending performers and televising the contest — are boycotting the event.
They say they are protesting the war in Gaza and taking a stand over Israel's participation in Eurovision.
The Irish broadcaster RTÉ said taking part was "unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there".
Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS said it believed Israel had used the event "as a political instrument".
The ABC has contacted the Israeli broadcaster, KAN, for comment.
Demonstrations against Israel taking part have become a feature of Eurovision in recent years, amid ongoing wars in the Middle East.
There are also counter demonstrations planned in support of Israel and its 28-year-old performer, Noam Bettan.
After he was selected as Israel's entrant this year, Bettan said he was excited to get the opportunity to compete.
"I feel amazing, I'm proud to be here, I'm happy to be here. I value this place [Israel] so much, I've waited for this for so many, many years," he said.
Vienna police have described the competition in the Austrian capital as one of the biggest security events they have overseen.
"We expect there will in fact be blockades and disruptive actions, particularly on the day of the final, whether through authorised or unauthorised gatherings," said Xenia Zauner, a senior police official who will oversee the security operation.
SBS defends decision to compete
Barbara Berreiro-Leon, a film and visual culture lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, acknowledged that while Eurovision's slogan is "united by music" and it tries to be apolitical, it regularly attracts controversy.
"Every single piece of art is political in one way or another," Dr Berreiro-Leon, who teaches a subject about Eurovision, told the ABC.
"That's because you want to send a message. It could be a cultural message about feminism, human rights, or it could be anything.
"We cannot really separate politics from real life."
Thirty-five countries are participating in Eurovision this year, including Australia.
A spokesperson for broadcaster SBS, which coordinates and televises the competition in Australia, told the ABC, "our position remains that, as a public broadcaster, making a decision to be involved based on the inclusion or exclusion of any country would undermine SBS's editorial independence and impartiality".
Noam Bettan will represent Israel at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
Russia was expelled from Eurovision in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but Dr Berreiro-Leon said she thought it was unlikely Israel would be banned.
"I don't know if [Israel would be expelled] because of what's happening in Gaza, because it would have come to that already, but I think that if more rules are breached by the [Israeli] broadcaster that would be the only reason why they would be removed from the contest," Dr Berreiro-Leon said.
Last weekend, organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) cautioned KAN, after videos emerged urging people to "vote 10 times for Israel". Eurovision gave KAN a formal warning, and the broadcaster removed the content immediately.
"Employing a direct call to action to vote 10 times for one artist or song is also not in line with our rules nor the spirit of the competition," Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green said.
Delta Goodrem gets a rehearsal in before representing Australia at Eurovision. (Supplied: SBS publicity)
Delta Goodrem tipped to dazzle
Singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem will represent Australia.
The 41-year-old will perform her new single Eclipse in the second semifinal on Thursday, local time.
"I feel very honoured and grateful to be a part of what is an institution of 70 years of amazing music," Goodrem told journalists on Sunday.
Dr Berreiro-Leon, who saw Goodrem perform at a Eurovision event at the Australian embassy in Vienna last Friday, said she was "impressed".
"Delta's vocals are really, really good, and I think she also has this big charisma," she said.
"People are saying that she might win the second semifinal, and I can see that happening, actually, so I think she's going straight through the final, and I can say that probably top 10, even top five."
Several Eurovision fan websites also list Goodrem in the top 10.
Delta Goodrem is considered a strong contender to make the Eurovision final this week. (Reuters: Lisa Leutner)
Lachlan Woods, president of the Eurovision Song Contest Fans of Australia Network, said more than 200 Australian fans were travelling to Vienna to cheer her on.
"I think it's really exciting that we've got such a strong entry this year. I've heard bits and pieces about what the performance is going to be like, and I'm very excited about it," Mr Woods said.
"Seeing such a well-respected artist like Delta on the global stage, such as here at Eurovision, it's just something that we can really be proud of as Australians."
He said that an Australian entry was still a bit of a novelty among the Eurovision fan community.
"If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me why Australia is in Eurovision, I could afford the return flight back and forth to Eurovision every year," Woods joked.
EBU invited Australia to compete as an interval act in 2014 and as a wildcard entry in 2015, due to Eurovision's popularity down under. Broadcaster SBS then struck a deal to keep coming back.