4 nations withdraw from 2026 Eurovision contest due to Israel's involvement

The Eurovision Song Contest's motto, "United By Music," is facing challenges as tensions arise regarding Israel's participation. This division stems from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has escalated into a humanitarian crisis. Four European nations have announced their decision to withdraw from the event next year, following Israel's approval to compete. The state broadcasters of the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia have all cited the war in Gaza as their primary reason for stepping back from the competition.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unexpected attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and taking around 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israel declared war, aiming to eliminate Hamas, which has controlled Gaza and is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. As of Wednesday, the death toll in Gaza had surpassed 70,000, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. A ceasefire has been agreed upon by both sides, which has generally held in October.

"Culture unites, but not at any price. What has happened over the past year has tested the limits of what we can uphold," stated Taco Zimmerman, head of the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS. "Universal values such as humanity and press freedom have been seriously compromised, and for us, these values are non-negotiable."

In its official statement, Ireland's RT referred directly to the ongoing conflict, explaining that participation in the contest would be "unconscionable" due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the loss of lives. Ireland has won Eurovision seven times, a record it shares with Sweden.

Spain's RTVE also expressed concerns about the situation, noting the difficulty in maintaining Eurovision as a neutral cultural event, especially with Israel's use of the contest for political purposes. Spain is part of the "Big 5" countriesalong with the UK, France, Germany, and Italythat contribute significantly to the competition's funding, ensuring their automatic entry into the final.

Similarly, Slovenia's broadcaster mentioned the war as a reason for withdrawal and criticized the Israeli government's use of the contest for political gain.

During the 2025 Eurovision, Israel's representative Yuval Raphael's song "New Day Will Rise" placed second, losing out to Austria's JJ with "Wasted Love." However, the Israeli government faced accusations of manipulating the voting process, prompting the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to introduce stricter voting regulations. Despite the controversy, Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green confirmed that Israel had not broken any rules.

At a meeting in Geneva on December 4, 2025, the EBU and member broadcasters from participating countries discussed new voting protocols, though no decision was made regarding Israel's participation. This cleared the way for Israel to compete in the 2026 event.

Following the meeting, Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his support for Eurovision, stating, "I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding."

Israeli broadcaster KAN criticized the backlash, with a representative calling the attempt to exclude KAN from the contest a "cultural boycott." However, broadcasters from countries like the UKs BBC voiced support for Israel's continued participation.

Opposition to Israel's involvement in Eurovision had been simmering since 2024, when protests were held outside the event in Malm, Sweden. Israel has participated in Eurovision since 1973, and it has won the competition four times, most recently in 2018.

The final of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 16.