Why Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands are boycotting next year’s Eurovision ...Middle East

Spain, Slovenia, Ireland and the Netherlands have pulled out of next year’s Eurovision after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided Israel could compete in the song contest without putting it to a vote.

A number of nations had called for Israel to be excluded over the war in Gaza and Israel allegedly flouting rules designed to safeguard the contest’s neutrality.

Public broadcasters from 56 countries met in Geneva on Thursday for the general assembly of the EBU, the body that organises the competition, and a debate on the issue had been expected to take place.

But no vote on Israel’s participation was held, and participating broadcasters voted only to introduce new rules to stop governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to sway voters.

“A large majority of members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision song contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place,” the EBU said in a statement.

Following the announcement, the Dutch, Spanish, Irish and Slovenian broadcasters said they were pulling out, meaning singers from their countries will not compete in the contest. Other countries are expected to follow.

What led up to this moment?

During the past two contests, Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision has caused controversy – with protests held during the events and several national broadcasters raising concerns over the war in Gaza and whether Israel’s participation aligns with the contest’s rules on political neutrality.

Eurovision is organised by the EBU, a global alliance of public broadcasters with 68 members.

In November, the EBU said it would tighten the competition’s voting rules after accusations that Israel had elevated its position last year through a paid-for advertising campaign. Some countries raised concerns after Israel won the public vote despite coming 14th in the jury vote – resulting in Yuval Raphael coming second place in the contest.

In September, the EBU announced that members would vote on whether Israel should participate in the 2026 contest.

In a statement on Thursday, the EBU said its members had voted in a “secret ballot” on whether they were happy with the tougher competition rules set out in November. Sixty-five per cent of delegates voted in favour of the changes to the song contest and no further discussion on the participation of Israel, while 23 per cent voted against and 10 per cent abstained.

The EBU confirmed that the 2026 contest will proceed in Vienna, Austria, as planned, with the new safeguards in place.

What have the boycotting broadcasters said?

Following the announcement, Irish broadcaster RTÉ said in a statement: “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.”

Spanish broadcaster RTVE said that it would not broadcast the contest or the semi-finals in Vienna next year, describing the decision-making process as “insufficient” and fostering “distrust”.

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“The EBU presidency has denied RTVE’s request for a specific vote on Israel’s participation,” the Spanish broadcaster said. “This decision increases RTVE’s distrust of the festival’s organisation and confirms the political pressure surrounding it.”

Announcing that the Netherlands would also be withdrawing, Dutch broadcaster Avrotros said: “After weighing all perspectives, Avrotros concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation.”

Slovenian national broadcaster RTVSLO said participation “would conflict with its values of peace, equality and respect”.

Iceland’s RÚV and Belgium’s broadcasters, VRT and RTBF, have not yet announced a decision and said they will do so in the coming days.

Which countries are still participating in Eurovision 2026?

Broadcasters who supported the outcome include Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland.

In a joint statement, they said they supported the EBU’s decision to “address critical shortcomings” in the voting system but that it was “important that we maintain an ongoing dialogue about how we safeguard the credibility of the EBU and the Eurovision song contest moving forward”.

The national broadcaster for the UK, the BBC, said: “We support the collective decision made by members of the EBU. This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive.”

German broadcaster SWR also confirmed that it would participate.

What has the Israeli broadcaster said in response to the decision?

Israel’s national public broadcaster KAN welcomed the EBU’s decision and affirmed its intention to participate in Eurovision 2026.

KAN said that it “hopes the contest will continue to uphold its cultural and non-political identity.”

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said his country “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”.

He added: “I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding.”

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