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By Dan Gooding and Gabe Whisnant
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Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands said Thursday they will withdraw from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after organizers voted to allow Israel to participate, deepening a growing rift within the international broadcasting competition.
The announcements followed a meeting of the European Broadcasting Union, in which several countries urged Israel’s exclusion over its conduct of the war in Gaza and allegations of interference in contest voting.
Spain’s public broadcaster said Israel’s inclusion was "no longer compatible" with its responsibilities, while Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS also cited ethical concerns. The decisions mark the latest upheaval for Eurovision, which has struggled for two years to shield the popular contest from geopolitical tensions surrounding the war.
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"The EBU’s membership voted emphatically on Thursday (4 Dec) for the Eurovision Song Contest to remain a unifying celebration of music and artistry," Martin Green CBE, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, told Newsweek in a statement." "While a small number of Members might not be joining us in 2026, we expect around 35 broadcasters will be taking part and we look forward to welcoming them to Vienna next year for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest."
Why It Matters
The developments expose how political discord has taken center stage over a usually joyful celebration of harmony through music.
While Eurovision usually avoids politics, Russia was expelled from the contest following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and critics have argued that Israel should also be banned over its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which has left over 70,000 people dead, per the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel has defended its campaign as a response to the deadly attack by militants on October 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 people dead.
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What To Know
The pullouts came after a general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union—a group of public broadcasters from 56 countries that runs the event—met to discuss concerns about Israel’s participation, which some countries oppose over its conduct of the war in Gaza.
Earlier, EBU members voted to adopt tougher voting rules in response to allegations that Israel had manipulated the vote in favor of their contestants, but took no action to exclude any broadcaster from the competition.
The feel-good pop music gala that draws more than 100 million viewers every year has been roiled by the war in Gaza for the past two years.
Although Israel's Yuval Raphael finished second with the song New Day Will Rise, in Basel, Switzerland last year, riot police were deployed in the city as pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested against Israel's participation.
This year's artist and song has yet to be chosen by Israeli TV viewers.
List of Countries Boycotting Eurovision
Four countries announced on Thursday they would not take part in Eurovision next year:
- Spain
- The Netherlands
- Ireland
- Slovenia
A report on the website of Icelandic broadcaster RUV, meanwhile, said it would meet next Wednesday to discuss whether Iceland would take part, after its board last week recommended that Israel be barred from the contest.
Several of the broadcasters—which run their country's news programs and wanted Israel kept out—cited killings of journalists in the conflict in Gaza and Israel's continued policy of denying international journalists access to the territory.
Why is Israel in Eurovision?
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on X that he was "pleased" Israel will again take part, and hoped "the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding."
While the country is not a part of Europe, it has been a member of Eurovision for decades, with the Israel Broadcasting Authority originally part of the EBU, making the country eligible to compete. While Israel has won the contest four times, its entry does not always make it to the final.
Austria, which is set to host the competition after Viennese singer JJ won this year with "Wasted Love," supports Israel’s participation. Germany, too, was said to back Israel. However, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS said that the participation of Israel "is no longer compatible with the responsibility we bear as a public broadcaster."
Spain's state broadcaster RTVE echoed similar concerns, expressing "serious doubts about the participation of Israeli broadcaster KAN," according to secretary-general Alfonso Morales. Irish broadcaster RTÉ said Ireland’s participation "remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza" and the humanitarian crisis there.
Several of the broadcasters—which run their country's news programs and wanted Israel kept out—cited killings of journalists in the conflict in Gaza and Israel's continued policy of denying international journalists access to the territory.
Israeli broadcaster KAN's chief executive Golan Yochpaz questioned whether EBU members are "willing to be part of a step that harms freedom of creation and freedom of expression."
What People Are Saying
**Israel President Isaac Herzog, on X: "**Israel deserves to be represented on every stage in the world, and I am fully and actively committed to that. I am glad that Israel will participate again in Eurovision and hope that the competition will remain one that sanctifies culture, poetry, and friendship between peoples and cross-border cultural understanding."
Irish broadcaster RTE, in a statement Thursday: "RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk. RTÉ remains deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory."
Taco Zimmerman, General Director of Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, in a statement Thursday: "This has not been an easy decision, nor one taken lightly. The Eurovision Song Contest is of great importance to us. Culture unites, but not at any price. What has happened over the past year has tested the limits of what we can uphold. Universal values such as humanity and press freedom have been seriously compromised, and for us, these values are non-negotiable. As a public broadcaster, we have a responsibility to remain true to our core values, even when that is difficult or sensitive."
When is Eurovision 2026?
Eurovision will next take place in May 2026.
The semifinals will be held in Vienna on May 12 and 14, with the final taking place Saturday May 16.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
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