Israel Allowed to Compete in 2026 Eurovision as Spain, Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia Withdraw
Israel has been cleared to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, but the decision has triggered a major fallout, with Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia announcing they will boycott the event over the ongoing Gaza war. The European Broadcasting Union made the ruling on Thursday after its general assembly met in Geneva to debate growing concerns about political influence and the contest’s neutrality.
Broadcasters from the four withdrawing countries argued that Israel’s continued participation contradicts Eurovision’s rules, citing the high civilian death toll in Gaza and accusing Israel of violating the spirit of a cultural competition meant to remain politically neutral. They insisted their boycott was an act of protest against what they described as a failure to uphold Eurovision’s values.
Israel, for its part, rejected the criticism and accused its detractors of waging a coordinated international smear campaign. Officials said that excluding Israel would have set a dangerous precedent and allowed political pressure to override the contest’s founding principles.
The EBU said it decided not to call a vote on Israel’s status, instead announcing new rules designed to prevent governments from attempting to influence entries or voting processes. The organisation stressed that Eurovision must remain a platform for music rather than politics, though detractors argue that the controversy makes such separation increasingly difficult.
The withdrawals mark one of the biggest diplomatic crises in Eurovision’s history and raise questions about how many additional countries may follow. With the contest months away, the EBU now faces the challenge of preserving unity in an event long celebrated for bringing Europe together.
