After the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) General Assembly confirmed last Thursday that Israel could participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, countries such as Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia have officially announced their withdrawal from the competition next year. Iceland, which also threatened to boycott the event if Israel was not expelled, is expected to make a decision on December 10, according to broadcaster RÚV. Portugal, on the other hand, remains firm. What happened?
Members of the EBU, which includes public broadcasters from various European countries, voted in a secret ballot yesterday regarding satisfaction with the “new measures and safeguards announced last month, without voting on participation in next year’s event.”
A statement read that the “vast majority agreed that there was no need for a new vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with additional safeguards in place.”
This means that “all EBU members wishing to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and agreeing to abide by the new rules are eligible to participate,“ with the complete list of participants for the 70th anniversary edition of the Eurovision Song Contest to be announced before Christmas.
At least four countries bid “goodbye” to the contest
Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia have followed through on threats made in recent months, announcing that, due to Israel’s continued presence in the event, they will not participate next year. Alongside this decision, they will also not broadcast the competition.
The Slovenian public broadcaster RTV indicated that “Slovenia, along with Spain, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Turkey, Algeria, and Iceland, requested a secret vote on Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, but this did not take place,” emphasizing that the votes were not secret.
The broadcaster emphasized that its board chairwoman, Natalija Gorscak, reminded in Geneva that the EBU rejected the Russian representative’s participation a week after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, yet now does not dare to reject Israel.
“Our message is: we will not participate if Israel is present. In the name of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza,” concluded Gorscak, during her address to the EBU General Assembly.
Spain has also opted to withdraw from the competition. “What happened at the EBU Assembly confirmed that Eurovision is not a song contest, but a festival dominated by geopolitical fractures,” said RTVE president José Pablo López on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Lo sucedido en la Asamblea de UER confirma que Eurovisión no es un concurso de canciones sino un festival dominado por intereses geopolíticos y fracturado.
RTVE se retira de Eurovisión.
Aquí nuestra posiciónhttps://t.co/DRA8l1SV6O a través de @rtve
— José Pablo López (@Josepablo_ls) December 4, 2025
Spain is notably the first “Big 5” country to boycott next year’s event. This group also includes the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, which contribute more financially to the EBU and the organization of the Eurovision Song Contest. Songs from these countries also gain direct access to each edition’s final.
The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS also stated in a release that it “will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026”. The Netherlands justified the decision citing not only the “violation of universal values such as humanity and press freedom” in Gaza by Israel but also “political interference during the previous Eurovision Song Contest,” stating it “crossed the line.”
The Irish broadcaster RTÉ similarly announced that it would not participate next year.
“Following the EBU Winter General Assembly held [Thursday] in Geneva, confirming Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, RTÉ’s position remains unchanged. RTÉ will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 nor broadcast the competition,” according to the public broadcaster of Ireland in a statement.
What is Portugal’s position?
Portugal’s RTP (Radio and Television of Portugal) stated in a release to media outlets that “like the vast majority of member countries, it voted in favor of changing the rules to allow countries to participate in the next Eurovision Song Contest with greater confidence in voting results.”
“Based on this decision by the EBU, which owns the Eurovision Song Contest, RTP will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, Austria,” it highlighted.
“Israel deserves to be represented on every stage worldwide”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed the possibility of Israel competing, stating that the country “deserves to be represented on every stage worldwide“.
“I’m pleased that Israel will once again participate in Eurovision and hope the competition continues celebrating culture, singing, friendship between nations, and cross-cultural understanding,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Israel deserves to be represented on every stage around the world, a cause to which I am fully and actively committed. 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,…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) December 4, 2025
Herzog also thanked all “friends who defended Israel’s right to continue contributing and competing in Eurovision,” emphasizing it was “a joy to participate in this fight and help” as much as possible.
“This decision is a highly appreciated gesture of solidarity, fraternity, and cooperation, symbolizing victory over those who seek to silence Israel and spread hate,” he concluded.
It is worth noting that Israel nearly triumphed in this year’s edition but was surpassed by Austria. Consequently, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be held in Vienna, with semifinals scheduled for May 12 and 14. The grand final is set for May 16.
The Slovenian public broadcaster RTV announced Slovenia’s withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest after today’s votes at the 95th EBU General Assembly in Geneva, which allow Israel’s continuation in the musical contest.
Lusa | 19:29 – 04/12/2025
