Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, after Israel was allowed to compete.
They were among a number of countries who had called for Israel to be excluded over the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza, and accusations of unfair voting practices.
Despite calls for a vote on Israel’s participation, members instead approved a new set of rules intended to protect the integrity of the contest.
Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE said it felt that its “participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”
In a statement, Dutch broadcaster Avrotros said that “participation under the current circumstances is incompatible with the public values that are essential to us”.
Spanish broadcaster RTVE added: “The board of directors of RTVE agreed last September that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision if Israel was part of it.”
“This withdrawal also means that RTVE will not broadcast the Eurovision 2026 final… nor the preliminary semi-finals.”
RTVE had led the calls for Israel’s dismissal, and requested a secret ballot on its participation.
According to the broadcaster, organisers “denied RTVE’s request”, adding: “This decision increases RTVE’s distrust of the festival’s organisation and confirms the political pressure surrounding it.”
Slovenia’s broadcaster RTV added that their position also “remains unchanged”.
“The recent rule changes do not alter our view. As a public service broadcaster, RTV Slovenia is committed to upholding ethical principles and expects that equal rules and standards apply to all EBU members and all participating countries.”
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog praised the decision to allow the country to compete, calling it “an appreciated gesture of solidarity, brotherhood, and cooperation, symbolising a victory over those who seek to silence Israel and spread hatred”.
He said he was “glad that Israel will participate again in Eurovision and I hope that the competition will remain one that sanctifies culture, poetry, and friendship between peoples and cross-border cultural understanding”.
He added that Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage in the world, and I am fully and actively committed to that”.
Iceland was also expected to boycott the contest, but have yet to say what they plan to do.
