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Ireland among nations boycotting eurovision after Israel confirmed as participant
Several European broadcasters, including those from Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia, have announced they will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel to compete.
The boycott comes after months of debate surrounding Israel’s participation amid the ongoing war in Gaza and concerns over alleged voting irregularities during the 2025 contest.
Despite these objections, a recent meeting of the EBU in Geneva ended with a strong majority of members agreeing that Eurovision 2026 should proceed without a further vote on Israel’s eligibility.
Broadcasters opposed to the decision argue that allowing Israel to remain in the competition contradicts their ethical standards. Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ described its withdrawal as a moral necessity, citing the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza. Spain’s RTVE said the decision deepened its loss of trust in the contest’s governance and confirmed it would not broadcast the 2026 event.
On the other side, supporters of Israel’s inclusion—including several Nordic broadcasters and Germany’s ARD—emphasized the importance of keeping Eurovision a non-political cultural event. They welcomed the EBU’s adoption of new rules designed to prevent coordinated voting campaigns and maintain the credibility of the competition.
Israel’s government and its public broadcaster praised the outcome as a sign of solidarity and a rejection of cultural boycotts. However, the departures of several nations reveal a widening division within the Eurovision community, raising questions about the contest’s ability to remain a unifying platform as it approaches its 70th anniversary.
