Five countries have officially boycotted Eurovision 2026 over Israel’s inclusion in this year’s contest, marking the largest coordinated withdrawal from the competition in more than five decades.
The Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Vienna, Austria, has become engulfed in controversy after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) approved Israeli broadcaster Kan’s participation despite mounting pressure from several national broadcasters to ban the country over the war in Gaza.
Iceland was represented by the electronic duo VÆB with the song RÓA at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest
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Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland have all pulled out of the competition, with some broadcasters also refusing to air the event entirely.
The walkouts followed accusations that the EBU had ignored concerns from member broadcasters and failed to put Israel’s participation to a direct vote.
Spain’s broadcaster RTVE, one of Eurovision’s influential Big Five financial contributors, was among the first to withdraw.
RTVE president José Pablo López said: “As joint organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest, we share a collective responsibility.
Ireland is officially boycotting the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest
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"While Israel has regularly participated in the competition, the current events and the genocide currently taking place make it impossible for us to look the other way. It is not accurate to claim that Eurovision is merely an apolitical music festival.
"We are all aware that the contest carries significant political implications. The Israeli government is equally aware of this fact and leverages the event on the international stage.”
Irish broadcaster RTÉ also confirmed it would not participate if Israel remained in the contest.
In a statement, RTÉ said: "RTÉ will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTÉ broadcast the competition.
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Slovenia was represented by Klemen Slakonja at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest
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"RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.
"RTÉ remains deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory."
The Netherlands’ broadcaster Avrotros similarly cited humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
In its statement, the broadcaster blamed Israel for "the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza, the suppression of press freedom, and the political interference during the last Eurovision Song Contest", adding that those three points "are incompatible" with its fundamental values.
Israel competed in the first semi-final on Tuesday, and were successfully voted through to the Grand Final
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Avrotros also referenced “the deliberate exclusion of independent international reporting and the many casualties among journalists”.
Meanwhile, Icelandic broadcaster RÚV became the final nation to officially pull out before the EBU’s December 2025 participation deadline.
In a statement, RÚV said in part: "Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV) has decided not to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria next year.
"The participation of the Israeli public broadcaster Kan in the contest has recently caused disunity, both among the member stations of the European Broadcasting Union, EBU, and the public."
The Netherlands was represented by singer Claude in 2025
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The statement appeared to reference Russia’s exclusion from Eurovision following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Slovenia’s broadcaster RTV Slovenia has gone even further by refusing to air the contest altogether.
RTV Slovenia director Ksenija Horvat said: “We will not be broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest.
"We will be airing the film series Voices of Palestine, featuring Palestinian documentaries and feature films.”
Spain is a member of the group of nations that provide the largest financial contributions to the EBU
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The backlash follows continued scrutiny surrounding Israel’s Eurovision involvement in recent years.
Last year, Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael won the public vote despite wider controversy surrounding the competition.
The EBU has continued defending Israel’s inclusion, maintaining that Eurovision remains a non-political event despite mounting pressure from broadcasters, artists and fans calling for the country’s exclusion.
Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of genocide in Gaza.