08/27/2026
Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland boycotted the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in protest of Israel's participation.
Recent Boycotts (2026–2027):
The 2026 Contest (Vienna): Spain, the European Broadcasting Union - EBU Netherlands (AVROTROS), Ireland (RTÉ), Slovenia (RTVSLO), and Iceland (RÚV) withdrew from the 70th anniversary competition. They cited concerns over the war in Gaza and argued that Israel's inclusion compromised the contest's political neutrality.
The 2027 Contest:
The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced it will continue the boycott and sit out the 2027 contest for the same reasons.
Historical Context and Other Withdrawals:
While various countries have withdrawn from Eurovision over the decades due to financial constraints, broadcast costs, or internal political disputes, the 2026 boycott stands as the largest politically motivated collective withdrawal in the event's history. (Separately, Russia was indefinitely suspended and barred from the contest by the European Broadcasting Union following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022).
Would you like to know more about the specific rule changes the European Broadcasting Union introduced regarding the contest, or details on past political withdrawals?
European Broadcasting Union Website:
https://www.ebu.ch/
Eurovision Song Contest Website:
https://www.eurovision.com/
The EBU is the world's foremost alliance of public service media organizations, with 115 Members in 57 countries in Europe and beyond. The EBU's mission is to defend the interests of public service media and to promote their indispensible contribution to modern society. It is the point of reference....
