Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 7 minutes ago
Watch: Beyond Eurovision's glitter - how geopolitics became the biggest act in Vienna

Have you ever wondered what makes a hit in 2026? According to Spotify, a song should have a tempo of 127 beats per minute, a four-four time signature, and the key of F Major. But this year, the biggest hit at Eurovision is not a melody; it is the politics.

READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/05/15/watch-beyond-the-glitter-how-geopolitics-became-the-biggest-act-in-vienna

Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
Transcript
00:01Have you ever wondered what makes a hit in 2026?
00:04According to Spotify, there is a literal formula for the perfect entry.
00:08A tempo of 127 beats per minute, a 4-4 time signature and a key of F major.
00:15But this year, the biggest hit is not a melody. It is the politics.
00:19Vienna is hosting the 70th anniversary of Eurovision,
00:22but the United by Music motto is under its heaviest strain yet.
00:26So let's look together what's behind the glitter.
00:32With only 35 participating countries, the lowest level since 2003,
00:37the competition is struggling to survive the grit of real-world geopolitics.
00:41And Europe is witnessing its largest boycott ever.
00:45With five nations, so Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland,
00:49pulling out over Israel's inclusion.
00:52And in a move of a direct protest,
00:53Slovenia has replaced the live broadcast with a documentary series titled Voices of Palestine.
00:59And even inside the arena, Israel's Noam Betan qualified amidst a wall of both cheers and protests.
01:06So it seems like this edition has become a high-stakes revenue gamble for an event that organizers claim
01:11was watched by over 160 million people around the world last year.
01:16And following the vote last December to confirm Israel's place in the contest,
01:21President Isaac Hertog argued that the country deserves to be represented on every stage.
01:26He also described the move as a vital demonstration of solidarity, fellowship and cooperation.
01:31And Israeli officials have accused their critics of wide-ranging campaign against Israel's participation in Eurovision.
01:37With the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs saying it has identified a sharp increase in anti-Semitic and anti-Israel
01:43tones surrounding the contest.
01:45But one thing is certain.
01:47Whether through boycotts or ballads,
01:50Eurovision remains the only stage where continent's tensions are performed in three minutes of pyrotechnics,
01:55strobe lights and perhaps even some music in the background too.
01:58Thank you so much.
Comments

Recommended