Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia are to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, after organisers decided that Israel could compete.
The four countries pulled out after from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) competition due to concerns about Israel’s participation, which is opposed by some countries due to its conduct of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The move followed an EBU meeting in Geneva last week to vote on new Eurovision Song Contest rules.
In a statement, the EBU said: “Ahead of the vote, there was a wide-ranging discussion where members expressed a variety of views on participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Many members also took the opportunity to stress the importance of protecting the independence of public service media and the freedom of the press to report, not least in conflict zones such as Gaza.”
After the vote, broadcasters were asked to confirm their participation in the 2026 Contest.
In a statement, Dutch broadcaster Avrotros said that "participation under the current circumstances is incompatible with the public values that are essential to us".
Spanish broadcaster RTVE stated: "The board of directors of RTVE agreed last September that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision if Israel was part of it."
"This withdrawal also means that RTVE will not broadcast the Eurovision 2026 final... nor the preliminary semi-finals."
Germany, which had threatened to leave the contest if Israel was removed, welcomed the EBU’s decision. Its broadcaster ARD said it was "looking forward to participating" next year, "embracing it as a celebration of cultural diversity and solidarity".
Approximately 50 broadcasters, including the BBC, attended the EBU meeting on Thursday to discuss the future of the contest.
The BBC commented: "We support the collective decision made by members of the EBU. This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive."
Speaking after the discussion, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, President of the EBU, highlighted: “The result of this vote demonstrates our members’ shared commitment to protecting transparency and trust in the Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s largest live music event.”
“I would like to thank all members for their thoughtful, respectful, and constructive contributions during today’s session and throughout the extensive consultation process undertaken this year.”
Austria’s capital, Vienna, has been selected by host broadcaster ORF and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026. Discover more here.
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