European countries refuse to broadcast Eurovision because of Israel’s participation

Slovenia will not broadcast Eurovision this year. Instead, public television will offer films about Palestine. The move is part of a broader boycott over Israel’s participation in the competition. Ireland and Spain also chose not to broadcast the event. For Spain, this is a first since 1961. Ireland had already announced its withdrawal at the end of 2025. Other countries such as the Netherlands and Iceland have left the competition, but will still continue to broadcast it.

The 2026 edition, which marks 70 years of Eurovision, is due to take place in Vienna from May 12 to 16 with 35 participating countries. These decisions come after criticism linked to the genocide in Gaza and the presence of Israel in the competition. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has maintained this participation, which creates tensions. The slogan “United by music” nevertheless shows a desire for unity, but Eurovision has difficulty remaining outside the international context. Slovenian television explains that it wants to show another reality by broadcasting Palestinian films, which marks a clear position. For its part, the EBU is trying to calm the situation with new rules to limit political influence and voting campaigns, without really succeeding in appeasing the critics.