Eurovision 2026 faces boycott over Israel’s participation

A major controversy has emerged ahead of Eurovision 2026, as Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain announced they will not participate in next year’s music competition.

The decision comes immediately after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that Israel would be allowed to participate, with no vote to exclude the country.

The announcement triggered strong reactions from several nations.

The withdrawing countries cited Israeli actions in Gaza, serious human rights violations, and alleged political interference in last year’s contest as primary reasons for their boycott.

Ireland’s broadcaster RTE referred to the "humanitarian crisis and devastating loss of life" in Gaza as a key factor, while the Netherlands stated that Israel’s presence contradicts public values.

Slovenia cited the deaths of 20,000 children as a reason for withdrawing, and Spain’s broadcaster RTVE criticized Israel for politicizing the contest, undermining Eurovision’s neutrality.

Germany also warned that it would withdraw if Israel were excluded. Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed the EBU decision, asserting Israel’s right to representation on every global platform.