A total of 671 antisemitic incidents were recorded across Austria by the Reporting Centre for Antisemitism of the Jewish Community of Vienna (IKG) during the first six months of 2026.
While the figure marks a slight decline compared to the 726 incidents logged during the same period in 2025 and 808 in the first half of 2024, the total remains more than twice as high as the 311 cases recorded prior to the October 7 massacre. On average, 3.7 antisemitic incidents per day were recorded during the reporting period, compared to 4.2 for the full year 2025.
The Reporting Centre noted that antisemitism in the country continues to be heavily influenced by geopolitical developments in the Middle East, with escalations translating directly into local incidents where Jewish people are held accountable for the actions of the State of Israel.
Israel-related incidents remain dominant manifestation of antisemitism
Israel-related antisemitism remained the dominant manifestation, appearing in 75.4 percent of all registered cases. In the vast majority of instances, this motif occurred alongside other forms of prejudice, such as antisemitic othering, Holocaust relativization, and conspiracy myths.
IKG President Oskar Deutsch said, “Since October 7, 2023, not only the boundaries of what can be said, but also of what can be done, have shifted. Antisemitic words are followed by threats and attacks against Jews. A state of emergency has become the norm.”
The overall trend throughout the six months was heavily influenced by the outbreak of war on February 28, which pitted Israel and the United States against the Iranian regime. Acting as a catalyst, the conflict drove a sharp rise in incidents immediately following its outbreak, with 79 incidents recorded in the two weeks after the war began, almost twice as many as the 40 recorded in the two weeks prior.
This surge culminated in March as the peak month of the half-year with 152 recorded cases. High numbers also persisted in May, a month that accounted for half of all physical assaults (6 of 12), nearly a third of all calls for or glorification of terror (22 of 70), and featured events such as the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna and campaigns surrounding the Gaza flotilla.
Analyzing the shift across different offense types, IKG pointed out that while lower-level incidents such as offensive behavior and property damage decreased compared to early 2025, falling from 432 to 347 and from 78 to 68 respectively, severe misconduct moved in the opposite direction.
Physical assaults rose from 5 to 12, up from 5 in the first half of 2025 and approaching the level of 16 recorded in the first half of 2024. Among the 12 assaults, nine were classified as Muslim-motivated, two as right-wing, and one as unattributable.
Recorded threats similarly increased from 8 to 18, compared to 8 during the same period in 2025, with more than half originating from a Muslim background, alongside three left-wing, three unattributable, and two right-wing cases.
Other monitored categories included 68 incidents of property damage and desecration, where a right-wing background was most frequent with 28 cases, followed by 22 unattributable, 14 left-wing, and only 4 clearly attributable to a Muslim background.
Mass mailings totaled 226, with a Muslim background representing the largest share at 41.6 percent, followed by left-wing cases at 35.8 percent, right-wing cases at 14.6 percent, and 8 percent unattributable. Abusive behavior reached 347 incidents, most frequently categorized as ideologically unattributable at 36.6 percent, followed by 23.6 percent right-wing, 21.3 percent Muslim, and 18.4 percent left-wing.
Out of the broader dataset, 33 incidents were connected to demonstrations, and 14 occurred within the field of education. Cases involving calls for or the glorification of terror were identified 70 times, accounting for 10.4 percent of all registered incidents, with the largest shares carrying a Muslim or left-wing background.
Antisemitism incidents motivated by left-wing, right-wing, Islamist ideologies
Regarding ideological categorization across all 671 incidents, 191 were classified as Muslim-motivated, 162 as left-wing, 147 as right-wing, and 171 as unattributable.
The data also tracked the mediums through which incidents occurred, recording 376 on social media, 175 witnessed in person, 71 by email, 33 on other online channels, and 16 across letters and alternative formats.
Johannan Edelman, head of IKG, said, "What we register is only the tip of the iceberg. The statistics only include incidents that we have verified as clearly antisemitic after careful examination. At the same time, the willingness of those affected to report such incidents is low – out of resignation or fear of becoming even more targeted. But every report helps to make the true extent of the problem visible."
IKG General Secretary Benjamin Nägele stated, "Our community has relied on extensive security measures for years. The fact that we have had to get used to this must never mean that we accept antisemitism and the associated threat as normal. Those who can deny antisemitic agitators space within their sphere of influence are called upon to act, so that cohesion in our society is strengthened."