Corriere Della Sera reports that the Italian broadcaster RAI has called on the European Broadcasting and ORF to invite a Palestinian artist to perform at Eurovision 2026.
The Italian public broadcaster has confirmed that it has made a request that a Palestinian artist be allowed to perform in a non-competitive position at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The suggestion comes as three RAI Board Members released a statement explaining that:
“Palestine must be welcomed onto the Eurovision stage, if we don’t want to undermine the values of inclusion and brotherhood that music embodies.
The Italian public service broadcaster proposed evaluating editorial choices capable of giving visibility, in a non-competitive manner, to an artist representative of Palestinian culture, as a sign of civic sensitivity and the promotion of dialogue. To date, no response has been received from the EBU or ORF, the Austrian broadcaster organizing the event. But international pressure can still influence the decisions of European broadcasters, who will meet with ORF in mid-March to define the editorial content for the three evenings in Vienna.”
Fabrizio Casinelli, Director of Rai Communications, confirmed at a press conference this afternoon for the Festival di Sanremo that “Rai asked not to turn a blind eye, we said so when the request was made and this is our position”.
The news comes one day after Levante, who will compete in the Festival di Sanremo 2026, confirmed that should they win the contest, they would not go to Eurovision due to Israel’s participation. All of the artists competing in the Festival di Sanremo are being asked by Rai, as per the existing process, to outline whether they intend to go to Eurovision should they win before the Festival di Sanremo takes place.
It is not unknown for an artist from a non-participating country to be invited to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest. The most well-known example was in 2014, when Australia was given a guest appearance in a Semi-Final to celebrate its links to Eurovision.
Eurovision 2026
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be held in Vienna following JJ’s victory for Austria with “Wasted Love” in Basel. 35 countries are set to take part. Both semi-finals are scheduled for May 12 and 14, while the Grand Final will take place on May 16. The contest will be hosted in the Wiener Stadthalle, the same venue used in 2015, which can accommodate up to 16,000 spectators.
The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna on May 12, 14, and 16, 2026.
Source: Corriere Della Sera / La Repubblica
