Eurovision 2026 boycott: EBU upholds Israel, Spain and 3 other countries walk out
The General Meeting of the’EBU meeting in Geneva on Thursday will be remembered as a turning point for the Eurovision Song Contest. After a vote by its members, the EBU confirmed Israel's participation in the 2026 edition in Vienna. The response was swift: a wave of historic boycotts immediately shook the small world of Eurovision, with the announcement of the withdrawal of several major countries, including one of the « Big Five » Spain. The boycott of Eurovision 2026 is well under way.
Was the Eurovision boycott predictable after more than a year of tension?
Since the final in May 2025, the legitimacy of Israel's participation has been at the centre of controversy. Suspicions of a state campaign to influence the televoting had created an unprecedented rift in the Eurovision family.
In response, however, the EBU tried to put out the fire ahead of its meeting by proposing a set of new rules These include the return of professional juries to the semi-finals, the need for a more diverse composition of juries, a reduction in the maximum number of votes per payment method, and above all, a rule explicitly prohibiting governments from taking an active part in promoting songs.
But for many broadcasters, these measures did not answer the essential question. Should the Israeli broadcaster KAN be allowed to take part or not, given the geopolitical context and past misbehaviour, whether in 2024 with accusations of denigration of certain candidates by the delegation, or in 2025 with suspicions of political manipulation of the televoting results?.
Members' votes: legalising a contested form of participation
Meeting in Geneva late on Thursday 04 December, EBU members voted to adopt the new regulations in their entirety, effectively rejecting a request from several broadcasters (including Slovenia, Spain, Iceland and the Netherlands) to hold a separate secret ballot on the exclusion of Israel.
The EBU has stated that a « large majority « of the members had decided that there was " no need for a new vote on the shareholding « and that the edition should " proceed as planned« . In other words: acceptance of the new rules paved the way for the participation of all members, including Israel.
Withdrawal announcements: Spain leads the way in the boycott
The response was immediate, marking the start of an unprecedented wave of boycott of Eurovision 2026.
- Spain (RTVE) was the first to announce its withdrawal, a major loss given that it is one of the Big Five « countries and a major sponsor of the competition.
- The Netherlands (Avrotros) quickly followed suit, believing that their participation was not compatible with their «fundamental public values" ».
- Ireland (RTÉ) deemed its participation «unreasonable in view of the appalling loss of life in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis ».
- Slovenia (RTV Slovenija) also confirmed its boycott of Eurovision later that evening.
Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Belgium, who have also threatened a boycott of Eurovision 2026, are now under the spotlight, with their decision expected in the next few hours.
For the moment, the shockwaves are spreading: Barcelona Pre-Party, the must-attend event of the season, has been cancelled by its organisers, proof of the tension that reigns and which is unfortunately spreading throughout the fan community.
Our verdict: Eurovision looks in the mirror, the price of 24 months of denial
It is with deep bitterness that we see the Contest getting caught up in this crisis. Let's be clear: the Eurovision 2026 boycott is not a thunderclap in a serene sky. It is the bitter fruit of 24 months of denial and bad decisions swept under the carpet with red lines crossed and few sanctions.
To see the event disintegrate in this way, at a time when it is actively seeking to transform itself and win over a new audience, paints a disastrous and counter-productive picture of its ambition.
The myth of apolitism
In 2025, it will no longer be enough to brandish the Eurovision slogan «apolitical »" when the contest is clearly being used as a tool for soft power. We are not questioning the neutrality of the organisers of the EBU itself, but their duty is to take this reality into account in their evaluation. The return of the juries and the new rules on promotion are certainly steps in the right direction, but lukewarm water has never extinguished a fire.
2026: An edition with a bitter aftertaste
Despite this, at Eurovision & Friends, Our passion for the artists and the songs remains intact. We will continue to follow the 2026 edition, to focus on the national selections (the beating heart of Eurovision, let's not forget!) and to discover new talent and new songs.
But let's face it: this year is bound to have an aftertaste. We are deeply disappointed and worried about the Vienna edition and, more generally, about the future and unity of the contest. Eurovision has paid a high price for its lack of courage: the break-up of the family.
Announcement from the Dutch broadcaster: https://pers.avrotros.nl/avrotros-neemt-in-2026-niet-deel-aan-het-eurovisie-songfestival/
Announcement from the Spanish broadcaster: https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20251204/eurovision-2026-anuncio-uer-participacion-israel/16845370.shtml
Announcement from the Irish broadcaster: https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/1204/1547300-rte-to-boycott-eurovision-song-contest-over-israel/
Slovenian broadcaster announcement: https://www.rtvslo.si/zabava-in-slog/glasba/ema/izrael-bo-lahko-nastopil-na-evroviziji-sestih-drzav-med-njimi-slovenije-na-tekmovanju-ne-bo/766145
EBU press release: https://www.ebu.ch/news/2025/12/ebu-members-show-clear-support-for-eurovision-reforms
The countries taking part in Eurovision 2026
| Country | Artist |
|---|---|
 Malte |
|
 Pays-Bas |
|
 Royaume Uni |
|
 Suisse |
|
 Luxembourg |
|
 Albanie |
|
 Norvège |
|
 Irlande |
|
 Israël |
|
 Slovénie |
|
 Chypre |
|
 Grèce |
|
 Lettonie |
|
 Lituanie |
|
 Monténégro |
|
 France |
|
 Estonie |
|
 Croatie |
|
 Italie |
|
 Roumanie |
|
 Bulgarie |
|
 Moldova |
|
 Pologne |
|
 Saint Marin |
|
 Portugal |
|
 Autriche |
|
 Allemagne |
|
 Espagne |
|
 Finlande |
|
 Suède |
|
 Danemark |
|
 Belgique |
|
 Serbie |
|
| Chypre |
