Eurovision 2026: Israel Allowed to Compete, Spain & The Netherlands Announce Boycott

The controversy surrounding Israels involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest has intensified after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that Israel will be allowed to compete in 2026. In response, several countries have declared they will not participate.

The Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland quickly announced their withdrawal following a meeting of the contests broadcasters that confirmed Israels inclusion. Dutch broadcaster Avrotros stated that competing under these conditions conflicts with the public values that are essential to us.

Spanish broadcaster RTVE noted that a board decision from September specified Spain would pull out if Israel took part. RTVE confirmed that they will not air the 2026 final or the preliminary semi-finals. Irelands boycott was also reported by BBC News. RTVE had been among the main voices urging Israels exclusion and had requested a secret vote regarding its participation.

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland had threatened to boycott. Slovenia and Iceland are now expected to withdraw from the competition. The EBU faced mounting pressure and recently updated its rules on promotion and voting ahead of the decisive meeting, though it did not indicate Israels status beforehand.

Eurovision director Martin Green previously stated that the contest is not immune to global events, while emphasizing the importance of creating a space for shared enjoyment and envisioning a better world, even amid political tensions. Russia remains banned from the competition due to its actions in Ukraine.

Author: Natalie Monroe