Eurovision Faces Boycott Threat as Four Nations Question Israel‘s 2026 Participation
Vienna – the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is facing a potential crisis as Slovenia, Spain, Iceland, and the Netherlands have publicly expressed doubts about their participation if Israel is allowed to compete. The escalating dispute centers on Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza and a growing call for the european broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude the nation from the popular international music competition.
This challenge to the EBU’s neutrality comes as several broadcasters grapple with balancing artistic participation against political concerns.The contest, typically a festivity of unity and diversity, now finds itself at the center of a geopolitical debate, perhaps impacting one of the world’s largest televised events, which drew over 160 million viewers this year.
Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO stated they will only participate if Israel is not included, with director Ksenija Horvat declaring, “If we can’t agree on a suitable collaboration, then we won’t come.” Spain’s Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, echoed this sentiment on Monday, stating, “I don’t think we can normalize Israel’s participation in international events as if nothing is wrong.”
Iceland’s national broadcaster, Ríkisútvarpið (Rúv), has also indicated it may withdraw if Israel participates. Director Stefán Eiríksson explained, “That is a possibility if there is no change in the position of the EBU, and there is no response to the worried sounds of us, Spain, Slovenia and other countries.”
The netherlands’ broadcaster, AVROTROS, has yet to make a final decision but remains in conversation with the EBU, stating they will provide further clarity soon. While the usual participation deadline is October, the EBU has postponed it to December this year, acknowledging the sensitivity of the situation. thirty-seven countries participated in the 2025 contest.
