One day after RTP confirmed its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, despite Israel’s involvement, a petition demanding Portugal’s “immediate withdrawal” from the European contest has emerged. By 11:00 p.m., the petition had gathered over 700 signatures.
The petition, titled “For the immediate withdrawal of Portugal from the Eurovision Song Contest while Israel participates”, expressed citizens’ “deep disagreement and indignation” regarding RTP’s decision.
“This indignation is exacerbated by the fact that the Portuguese representation voted in favor of Israel’s participation, placing Portugal on the wrong side of history,” the petition claims, asserting that “such a stance is unacceptable in light of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe and military offensive in the Gaza Strip, as well as the vote manipulation scandals that marred the 2025 edition in Basel.”
The petitioners contend that the “integrity of the contest was destroyed because the stage was captured by political interests,” pointing to “factual evidence, visible in the 2025 edition, that televoting was manipulated by campaigns organized by the Israeli state.”
Signatories emphasize that “RTP cannot subject Portuguese artists to a contest where the winner is decided by those who invest the most in propaganda to whitewash the image of an armed conflict.”
The petition recalls Portugal’s Eurovision participation in 1997, when the group “Os Amigos” was “forbidden by the organization to take the stage with red carnations in their lapel,” as it was considered an “unacceptable political message.”
“It is an affront to the Portuguese that the same organization which censored our peace carnations now turns a blind eye to a state responsible for a severe humanitarian crisis, allowing it to manipulate the contest rules to normalize its military actions,” the petition states.
They argue that “there is an ethical duty not to use public funds in an event that has turned into a platform for image laundering through art of serious violations of human rights” and that “RTP’s mission is to promote culture and peace, not to normalize war.”
They believe that, “by voting in favor of Israel’s participation, RTP ceased to be a passive participant and became an active accomplice in the normalization of the conflict.”
Thus, the petition demands that, “given the gravity of the humanitarian situation, the proven manipulation of results as a propaganda tool, and the shameful position of support manifested by the Portuguese vote,” RTP “announces Portugal’s non-participation in Eurovision 2026.”
“Portugal must correct the error of its vote and join the block of countries, like Spain, that refuse to whitewash the situation. It is imperative to defend the dignity of national artists, respect for International Law, and the true essence of the festival itself. Created in 1956 to promote peace and unity among peoples in a post-war era, Eurovision cannot serve as a stage to normalize war,” the petitioners conclude.
RTP confirms Portugal’s participation in Eurovision
RTP announced on Thursday that it “voted in favor of rule changes” at the Eurovision Song Contest, which included Israel’s participation, and will participate in next year’s edition.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, RTP noted that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) General Assembly voted this afternoon “to amend the voting rules of the Eurovision Song Contest” to “boost confidence and transparency and ensure the event’s neutrality.”
“RTP, along with a large majority of member countries, voted in favor of the rule changes that allow countries to participate in the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with greater confidence in the voting results,” it states.
Thus, “based on this decision by the EBU, holder of the Eurovision Song Contest, RTP will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, Austria.”
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) General Assembly confirmed on Thursday that Israel will participate in Eurovision 2026. Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia have already announced they will not participate in the competition.
Márcia Guímaro Rodrigues | 17:26 – 04/12/2025
Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia announce boycott
On Thursday, RTVE fulfilled its months-long threat and announced Spain’s “withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest.”
The Dutch public broadcaster, AVROTROS, has also announced it “will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026.”
“Considering all aspects, AVROTROS concludes that participation under current circumstances is incompatible with the public values that are essential to us,” the station announced on its website.
Ireland’s RTE has also announced that it “will not participate in or broadcast next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the event’s organizer, confirmed today that Israel may participate.”
Slovenia’s RTVSLO revealed that it “will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.”
Salvador Sobral, winner of the 2017 Eurovision, criticized RTP’s decision to participate in the next edition of the European contest despite Israel’s presence. “It’s the only Portuguese television that broadcasts a concert for Gaza, but at the same time, it is once again afraid to do the right thing,” he lamented.
Márcia Guímaro Rodrigues | 16:14 – 05/12/2025
