Three-time Eurovision winner wants ‘Israel’ booted from contest

• Three-time Eurovision winner Johnny Logan called for ‘Israel's’ immediate removal from the song contest and voiced strong support for Ireland's decision to boycott the 2026 edition.
• Logan argued that ‘Israel’ should not be allowed to "hide under the umbrella of the Eurovision" and stressed that the contest should be "political when necessary," citing the prior expulsion of Russia.

Three-time Eurovision winner Johnny Logan addressed controversy surrounding the song contest by calling for ‘Israel's’ immediate removal, voicing strong support for Ireland's decision to withdraw from the 2026 edition.

The Irish singer triumphed in 1980 and 1987 as a performer and composed the 1992 winning entry for Linda Martin.

Logan's comments, made in a recent interview with RTÉ, come just days after the Irish broadcaster confirmed it would neither participate in nor broadcast the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May 12–16, 2026, in Vienna, Austria.

This follows RTÉ's September announcement that Ireland's involvement would be "unconscionable" given the ongoing assault on Gaza and ‘Israel's’ actions, which have drawn widespread international criticism.

"I really feel that in this case, RTÉ definitely made the right decision," Logan said.

"I don't think that Israel should be allowed to hide under the umbrella of the Eurovision... to make it look as though everything's okay, business as usual, because it's not."

He argued that participation lends undue "respectability" to ‘Israel's’ government policies, which he condemned outright, clarifying his stance targets leaders, not ordinary citizens.

"It's not about the Israeli people; it's about the people in charge of Israel, the governments that have been making these decisions," he added.

Logan drew parallels to the EBU's 2022 expulsion of Russia over its wait with Ukraine, insisting the contest is "political when necessary," despite official non-political claims.

Several nations are reportedly considering similar steps.

"I think the EBU should have made a decision regarding Israel, removing them from the show and taking that decision away from individual countries," he stated, expressing hope that others follow Ireland's lead.

While Eurovision "has been really good to me," Logan admitted the advocacy brings him "no pleasure”.

RTÉ's boycott marks a significant shift for Ireland, a seven-time winner historically synonymous with the contest.