Eurovision 2026 hits 23-year low as five nations boycott over 'Israel'

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest is set to be the smallest in more than two decades, with just 35 countries confirmed to compete in Vienna this May, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced. The figure marks the lowest participation since 2003.

The crisis comes after the EBU confirmed 'Israel’s' inclusion in the competition, following months of internal debate and a secret ballot at the Winter General Assembly in Geneva. A "large majority" of members voted against excluding 'Israel'.

In response, five long-standing participants - Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland - declared they would boycott the event.

Read more: 'Israel' faces Eurovision backlash over Gaza war, calls for boycott

A Divided Stage

The withdrawals represent the most significant political fracture in Eurovision history. Broadcasters from the boycotting nations issued statements explaining their decisions:

• Ireland (RTÉ): Called participation "unconscionable" due to the humanitarian crisis and deaths in Gaza.
• Spain (RTVE): A "Big Five" member, Spain announced it would neither compete nor broadcast the contest, with Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun saying, "Culture should be on the side of peace and justice."
• The Netherlands (AVROTROS): Said 'Israel’s' inclusion conflicted with the public values of their organization.

While the EBU defended 'Israel’s' right to compete as a member of the union, the 2026 lineup is noticeably thinner. Even the return of Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania after brief absences could not offset the loss of several Western European heavyweights.

New Rules Fail to Ease Tensions

To address concerns over past controversies, including 'Israel’s' high televote scores in 2024 and 2025, the EBU introduced a series of safeguards:

• Expanded Jury Panels: Increasing from five to seven members per country.
• Youth Mandate: Requiring jury members aged 18–25 for broader representation.
• Stricter Anti-Promotion Rules: Preventing third-party entities from disproportionately boosting entries.

Boycotting nations dismissed these measures as insufficient.

Read more: ‘Israel’ allowed to compete at 2026 Eurovision

The 35-country lineup represents a clear low point for the modern era. Since the semi-final format was introduced in 2004, designed to accommodate growing participation, the contest has never featured fewer than 36 countries. The last comparably small field was in 2003, when 26 nations competed.

As Vienna prepares to welcome audiences to the Wiener Stadthalle, the contest’s theme, "United by Music," faces its toughest challenge yet. With major contributors and several former winners absent, the 70th Eurovision will be remembered as much for who stayed home as for those on stage.