‘Israel’ allowed to compete at 2026 Eurovision

‘Israel’ has been allowed to compete at the 2026 Eurovision song contest, following months of pressure by several European countries to exclude it due to the assault on the Gaza Strip.

The decision came after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) held a vote during its general assembly today in Geneva.

The overwhelming majority voted to adopt Eurovision reforms revealed by the EBU aimed at addressing the concerns raised by several countries over the participation of ‘Israel’.

European Broadcasting Union members showed "clear support for reforms to reinforce trust and protect (the) neutrality" of the contest, "allowing all Members to participate", the organisation said in a statement -- drawing immediate boycott announcements by Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain.

Since the reforms were adopted, the scheduled vote on ‘Israel’s’ participation will not be held.

Countries Announce Boycott

The Netherlands officially withdrew from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, with public broadcaster AVROTROS announcing the decision, after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) allowed the participation of ‘Israel’ today.

The move comes after months of threats from AVROTROS, which opposed ‘Israel’ participating in the contest due to the genocide in the Gaza Strip.

“AVROTROS concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation,” it said in a statement.

“AVROTROS noted that the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza, the restrictions on press freedom, and the political interference surrounding the most recent edition of the Eurovision Song Contest were incompatible with the values we stand for.”

The broadcaster cited the participation of ‘Israeli’ broadcaster KAN in this year’s Eurovision as the reason.

“[It] no longer be aligned with our responsibilities as a public broadcaster. Reliability, independence, and humanity are our guiding principles.”

General director of Avrotros, Taco Zimmerman said: “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.”
Spain's public broadcaster RTVE also said the country would boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest after the decision.

"The situation in Gaza, despite the ceasefire and the approval of the peace process, and the use of the contest for political goals by Israel, make it increasingly difficult to keep Eurovision a neutral cultural event," RTVE's secretary general Alfonso Morales said in a statement.

Spain is one of the so-called "big five" nations that make the biggest financial contributions to the European Broadcasting Union, the organiser of Eurovision, that automatically qualify for the final of the contest.

Ireland will boycott next year's Eurovision Song Contest, the public broadcaster RTE said.

"RTE will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTE broadcast the competition," the Irish broadcaster said in a statement.

"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,” it said.

Slovenia also said it will withdraw.

“Slovenia will not be there. Also on behalf of the 20 thousand children who died in Gaza,” Natalija Goršča, President of the Management Board of RTV SLO said.

“For the third year in a row, the public has demanded that we say no to the participation of any country that attacks another country. We must follow European standards for peace and understanding. Eurovision has been a place for joy and happiness from the very beginning, performers and audiences were united by music, and it should remain that way,” it added.

The country’s representative at the EBU said that the contest has become “hostage to the political interests of the Israeli government”.