"Eurovision 2026" in Vienna has faced boycotts over Israel's participation, — The Guardian
The Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled to take place in Vienna in mid-May, has become the target of a widespread boycott by several European countries. Public broadcasters in Slovenia, Ireland, and Spain have announced that they will not air the show in protest against Israel’s participation.
The Guardian reports on this.
Slovenia has taken the strongest stance. Ksenija Horvat, director of RTV Slovenia, announced that instead of the contest, the channel will air a series of films about the lives of the Palestinian people.
“We will not broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest. We will show a series of films titled ‘Voices of Palestine,’ which will include Palestinian documentaries and feature films,” she said.
The Spanish broadcaster RTVE also confirmed it would not broadcast the event, marking the first such instance since 1961. Ireland had previously announced that it would not only boycott the broadcast but also would not send a representative to the contest. Meanwhile, the Netherlands and Iceland, despite withdrawing from participation, plan to continue broadcasting the show.
The controversy stems from the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) decision to allow Israel to participate in the contest amid the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
The organizers of “Eurovision 2026,” held under the slogan “United by Music,” state that they are attempting to minimize political influence on the contest, particularly through new rules regarding the transparency of campaigns supporting participants.
Over a thousand musicians have signed an open letter calling for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 due to Israel’s participation.
During the 70th song contest, to be held in Vienna, rules regarding audience props will become significantly stricter.
The organizers of Eurovision 2026 have announced the running order for the semifinals. Ukrainian singer Leleka will take the stage as the 12th performer in the second semifinal. It will take place on May 14 in Vienna.
