By Daniel Welsh
Copyright huffingtonpost
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is still the better part of a year away, but it’s already facing a whole lot of controversy and scrutiny.
Anyone who’s followed the competition in the last few years will know it’s already faced plenty of backlash due to Israel’s continued presence amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
In the last month, a number of countries have backed calls for Israel to banned from Eurovision, similar to how Russia was banned in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine, with some even going as far as saying they will withdraw if Israel is invited to return.
Last week, organisers confirmed that a decision over whether to expel Israel will be put to a vote among competing countries in December, with several countries having different views on the outcome.
Here’s a quick guide to the countries and national broadcasters who have spoken out about Israel’s participation at Eurovision, and what they’ve said…
Given they have only been part of Eurovision for around half of the contest’s run, and haven’t so much as made the top 10 in the final since 2001, Slovenia might seem like an unlikely place to start.
However, Slovenia’s broadcaster RTVSLO was the first to issue a statement saying it would not return to Eurovision in 2026 if Israel were allowed to compete.
Days after Slovenia’s statement, Ireland’s RTÉ also made it clear that they would not compete at Eurovision – or even broadcast the ceremony – if Israel is part of it next year.
“It is RTÉ’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU’s decision is made,” a spokesperson said.
“RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza. RTÉ is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”
Ireland has been a significant presence at Eurovision for a number of years now. They currently share the joint record for the most number of wins with Sweden, on seven each, and Ireland is the only country to have triumphed in three consecutive years.
The Netherlands
As the debate around Israel at Eurovision continued last month, The Netherlands’ AVROTROS became the third national broadcaster to make the announcement that it would pull out of the contest completely if Israel does return next year.
They said: “AVROTROS can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza.”
In a statement, the Dutch broadcaster added: “[There has also been] proven interference by the Israeli government during the last edition of the Song Contest, with the event being used as a political instrument. This contradicts the apolitical nature of the Song Contest. These circumstances conflict with the values that AVROTROS represents as a public broadcaster.”
“[We have therefore] decided that AVROTROS’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will not be possible as long as Israel remains admitted by the EBU,” they concluded.
“If the EBU decides not to admit Israel, AVROTROS will be happy to participate next year. Pending that decision, all preparations are continuing as usual.”
After Slovenia, Ireland and The Netherlands, Spain’s RTVE then became the fourth national broadcaster to say it would not be part of Eurovision in 2026 if Israel were allowed to participate.
This is a significant development as Spain forms part of the so-called “Big Five”, a group of countries that contribute the most financially to Eurovision, and are therefore guaranteed a spot in the live final, without having to compete in earlier stages of the contest.
Other countries making up the “Big Five” are the UK, France, Germany and Italy.
Following the Austrian singer JJ’s victory in Basel earlier this year, Eurovision is due to return to Vienna in 2026.
In response to calls for a boycott of next year’s event should Israel be invited back, Austrian foreign minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said she was “deeply concerned about the risk of a rift between the members of the European Broadcasting Union” over the issue.
“Such a rift would only deepen the discord and preclude opportunities for important dialogue between artists and the public – without improving the situation on the ground in Israel and Gaza,” she claimed, while adding: “Excluding Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest or boycotting the event would neither alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor contribute to a sustainable political solution.”
Another senior official from the Austrian foreign ministry, Sepp Schellhorn, described “cultural boycotts” as “dumb and pointless”, suggesting they “don’t get us anywhere”.
Meanwhile, Austrian broadcaster ORF’s director-general Roland Weißmann said last week that he would be supporting Israel remaining with Eurovision.
“As I have advocated within the EBU for months, and recently expressed again to the EBU Supervisory Board: ORF unequivocally supports the participation of the Israeli public broadcaster KAN in the Eurovision Song Contest,” he said.
“I stand by this position and will continue to do so, especially given Austria’s history. However, the decision ultimately rests with the EBU, where all members are now called to conduct a secret ballot.”
Days after his win in May, JJ made it clear that he supports the calls for Israel to be removed from Eurovision.
Like Austria, Gustav Lützhøft of the Danish broadcast DR said that Denmark would not be voting to ban Israel from Eurovision.
“DR supports ESC as a cultural European event that has brought nations together through music since 1956,” he said.
“It follows that we will not vote for any EBU member to be expelled from the competition, as long as they comply with the rules and regulations.
Although not going as far as the likes of Spain, Ireland, Slovenia or The Netherlands, Icelandic broadcaster RÚV has also cast doubt on whether it will return to Eurovision next year, should Israel remain a part of the event.
Director general Stefán Eiríksson said that RÚV had “serious doubts about the conduct of both the Israeli public broadcaster and the Israeli government when it comes to Eurovision”, and had “expressed these concerns within the EBU”.
“It is likely that if there is no change in EBU’s position and it does not respond to these voices of concern coming from us, from Spain and Slovenia and others, then that will call for reactions from these broadcasters. But let’s just wait and see,” he added.
Sky News has since claimed that a spokesperson for RÚV has confirmed that “plans to boycott will [Eurovision] stand as long as Israel’s still at war”.
Poland’s national broadcaster has not announced any plans for whether or not Israel is involved in Eurovision next year.
However, culture minister Marta Cienkowska has said that Poland should follow in the footsteps of Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands and Slovenia if Israel does end up being permitted to compete.
“I would very much like this not to be an event that becomes political, but I will give my personal opinion, not as a minister, but as a person,” she was quoted as saying.
With “a very heavy heart”, she added: “I believe we should not take part in Eurovision if Israel participates.”
Belgium is an interesting presence at Eurovision. Because the country has two national broadcasters, the French-language RTBF and the Dutch-speaking VRT, they alternate each year between who is in charge of the Belgian delegation.
In 2026, RTBF will be in charge of Belgium, and they’ve said that whether or not it competes will “be made based on the decisions taken by the EBU at its general meeting in December”.
VRT, meanwhile, has shared the view that it “shares and supports the position of the countries that have withdrawn from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest”.
When official conversations about Israel’s participation at Eurovision 2026 took place over the summer, it was reported by Israel’s N12 News that national broadcasters for Germany and Italy had threatened to pull out of Eurovision if Israel is not permitted to return to the event in 2026.
Responding to these rumours, a spokesperson from Germany’s Südwestrundfunk (SWR) told HuffPost UK: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a major musical event that has brought people across Europe and beyond together for decades – diverse and respectful, regardless of origin, religion, or belief.
“The ESC is a music competition organised by EBU broadcasters, not governments. The Israeli broadcaster KAN adheres to applicable regulations and has been an integral part of the music competition for more than 60 years. We affirm their membership and the core values of the ESC.”
Germany’s culture minister Wolfram Weimer has also issued a statement condemning calls to boycott the event next year should Israel remain part of it.
“Eurovision was founded to bring nations together through music. Excluding Israel today goes against this fundamental idea and turns a celebration of understanding between peoples into a tribunal,” he said in a statement.
“It’s precisely because Eurovision was born on the ruins of war that it should not become a scene of exclusion. Eurovision is based on the principle that artists are judged on their art and not on their nationality. The culture of cancellation is not the solution — the solution is diversity and cohesion.”
HuffPost UK did also contact Italy’s broadcaster RAI in July for comment, but did not receive a response.
More recently, Italian media claimed that three of the seven directors at RAI had called on Italy to withdraw if Israel remain on the line-up for Eurovision 2026.
They said in a collective statement: “Five public broadcasters have already decided in recent weeks not to participate if Israel takes part in the demonstration. We ask Italy to do the same, giving a concrete sign of support to a people subjected to extermination.”
Malta is one of a handful of countries that has said it will continue its involvement at Eurovision regardless of the outcome of the vote later this year.
Culture minister Owen Bonnici told Times Of Malta: “Although I completely criticise the actions of the Israeli government, I believe that the window of dialogue should always be open.”
Australia has now been part of Eurovision since 2015. It was first invited to compete as a one-off to commemorate 60 years of the contest, but went down so well with viewers they’ve remained a staple of the contest ever since.
Like Malta, a spokesperson for Australia’s SBS confirmed to The Guardian that the broadcaster intends to return to Eurovision next year regardless of the outcome of the vote on Israel’s participation.
United Kingdom
The BBC’s director-general Tim Davie said last month: “We’re very aware of the concerns. Eurovision never has been about politics and should be a celebration of music and culture that brings people together. That is really important, that we try and preserve throughout.”
While the BBC is yet to make any other official announcements about next year’s event, recent research indicates that 82% of Britons supported Israel’s ban from Eurovision, with that figure rising to 87% when it was narrowed down to just Eurovision fans.
Although it did not comment on the issue of Israel, France’s broadcaster has already made clear it will be back at Eurovision in 2026.
“The group reaffirms its support for musical creation, to artists and for this unique event,” they said in a public statement.
Sweden’s SVT has made it clear that while it does not intend to withdraw from Eurovision next year, it does have conditions that must be met for them to agree to participate.
Eurovoix quoted them as saying: “[These conditions] include the need for a broad European consensus on the contest, that the safety of participants and fans can be guaranteed, as well as a contest that is apolitical in accordance with EBU rules.”
A statement from SVT read: “SVT is independent – that is one of our cornerstones. We do not take a political position. It is we and no one else who make decisions about our participation in Eurovision and the choices we make are not interpreted as a position for or against any other country’s public service broadcaster or for or against any other country’s participation.
“We understand that many people want an immediate answer to what SVT will do and there are many opinions about what is the right path. SVT’s participation is conditional on the basic conditions being in place.
“We will therefore spend time listening to the EBU and other members. It is to show respect for both a difficult issue and a beautiful idea of a cultural arena that wants to unite people through music.”
In a statement posted on its official X page, the Israeli broadcaster KAN said: “Kan, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, expresses its firm hope that the Eurovision Song Contest will continue to uphold its cultural and non-political identity.
“The potential disqualification of Israel’s public broadcaster Kan – one of the contest’s long-standing, popular, and successful participants – would be especially troubling ahead of the 70th edition of the song contest, which was founded as a symbol of unity, solidarity, and fellowship.
“Any such move could have wide-ranging implications for the competition and the values for which the EBU stands. The EBU Statutes stipulate for a good reason that extraordinary decisions of this kind require a 75% majority of the General Assembly – an exceptional majority. We are confident that the EBU will safeguard the contest’s professional, cultural, and non-political character as it marks the historic 70 years milestone of uniting by music.”
What does Eurovision have to say about the controversy?
A Eurovision rep told HuffPost UK in September: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. We are still consulting with all EBU Members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Song Contest.
“Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year’s event in Vienna. It is up to each Member to decide if they want to take part in the Contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.”