Eurovision allows Israel to compete in 2026 despite boycotts from several countries.

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May 16 in Vienna, Austria, faces controversy amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, now in its third year. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) declared on Thursday, December 4, that Israel remains eligible to compete, despite appeals from multiple international broadcasters to bar its participation. According to the EBU, all members wishing to join Eurovision 2026 and comply with the updated rules are allowed to take part.

Following this announcement, several countries have confirmed they will not participate. The Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia stated they will skip the contest, while Iceland, which had previously hinted at a boycott, is also expected to withdraw.

Dutch broadcaster Avrotros explained that competing under the current conditions conflicts with the public values we uphold. Spanish broadcaster RTVE added that a decision made by its board in September mandates Spains withdrawal if Israel participates, which also means RTVE will not air either the semi-finals or the final of Eurovision 2026.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals and taking 251 hostages. In the subsequent Israeli military response, over 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been reported killed and more than 170,000 injured.

This situation marks yet another instance where global politics intersect with Eurovision, which has been held since 1956. Previous disputes have involved tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine, as well as Georgia and Russia. Eurovision continues to maintain that its contests are intended to remain non-political.

Author: Aiden Foster