Eurovision Faces Its Biggest Crisis After Boycott Wave
What’s happening around Eurovision right now feels unlike anything the contest has ever seen, and it’s all unfolding incredibly fast. Four countries — the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia — have already announced that they will boycott next year’s competition after the European Broadcasting Union decided that Israel will still be allowed to participate. And honestly, the reaction signals just how deep the divide has become within the Eurovision community.
So here’s the situation as it stands. These four broadcasters had pushed hard for Israel to be excluded over the humanitarian toll of the Gaza war. They even suggested holding a secret ballot so every EBU member could vote freely on whether Israel should take part. But during a major meeting in Geneva, members were instead asked a different question — whether newly introduced safeguards were enough to move forward without a direct vote on Israel’s participation. A large majority said yes, meaning the contest would continue as planned. And almost immediately afterward, those four countries released statements confirming they were pulling out.
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Each broadcaster had its own reasoning, but the message was consistent: participation simply felt impossible under the current circumstances. In Ireland, RTÉ called the idea of competing “unconscionable” considering the loss of life in Gaza. Spain’s RTVE said denying a secret ballot damaged trust in how the contest is run. The Netherlands argued that taking part couldn’t be aligned with its core public values. And Slovenia’s broadcaster took a firm stance as well.
Meanwhile, other countries — like Belgium and Iceland — haven’t yet decided what they’ll do. Some Nordic broadcasters, such as Norway and Denmark, have signaled they will still participate. Germany’s ARD says it regrets the withdrawals but respects the decisions. And Sweden hasn’t publicly taken a firm position yet.
Israel, for its part, has welcomed the outcome. President Isaac Herzog said the decision shows solidarity and that Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world.” Its broadcaster Kan has already been preparing for the 2026 contest and maintains that it fully complies with EBU rules.
What makes this moment especially intense is that Eurovision has always presented itself as apolitical — a cultural celebration where music bridges divides. Yet the debate over Israel’s involvement has been building for two years. There were protests at both the 2024 and 2025 contests, allegations of vote manipulation, and mounting pressure for a clear decision. Today’s outcome didn’t resolve all of that — if anything, it exposed how strained the relationships inside the EBU have become.
The contest will still go ahead next year in Vienna. But with boycotts already confirmed and more nations considering their next move, Eurovision is entering one of the most turbulent chapters in its history — and stitching these ties back together may not be easy.
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