Public broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia announced on Monday that they will not air the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, joining a growing list of European outlets refusing to broadcast the event in protest of Israel’s participation following the Gaza war. The decision is being described as a boycott of the contest.
The row over Israel’s inclusion intensified after the 2025 contest, when Israel finished second amid accusations that its government had attempted to influence the popular vote. Organizers dismissed the allegations but, under pressure, shelved a proposed vote on Israel’s participation and took steps to curb concerns about voting integrity, including reducing the maximum number of times one person can vote from 20 to 10.
Spain, Ireland and Slovenia had already indicated last year they would not take part in the 2026 contest because of Israel’s entry. Iceland and the Netherlands also said they would boycott the competition as participants, but both countries plan to broadcast the show despite not taking part themselves.
The broadcasters have outlined alternative programming for the Eurovision final. Slovenian public broadcaster RTV said it will replace the contest with a themed series titled ‘Voices of Palestine.’ Ireland’s RTÉ intends to stream a Eurovision-focused episode of the 1990s sitcom ‘Father Ted’ during the final. Spain, one of Eurovision’s largest financial contributors, will air its own musical special called ‘The House of Music.’
Why Israel’s participation is controversial
The controversy comes against a backdrop of previous politically charged Eurovision decisions: Russia was banned from the contest in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine. The competition’s rules bar overtly political entries, but national and international politics have repeatedly spilled over into voting, participation and broadcast choices.
Eurovision’s format combines a professional jury and a public televote to decide the winner. Organizers have sought to respond to complaints about vote manipulation and bloc voting, but tensions remain over when politics intersect with the entertainment event.
About Eurovision and the EBU
The Eurovision Song Contest is organized annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and typically takes place in May. Each EBU member sends a musical act to represent its country. The EBU dates back to 1950s post-war Europe; Israel joined the union in 1973 and Australia became a participant in 2015.
Despite controversies, Eurovision remains hugely popular: it attracts roughly 160 million television viewers worldwide and is known for flamboyant performances, elaborate staging and a broad cultural following.
Edited by: Alex Berry