Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovakia have all withdrawn from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) declined to hold a vote on Israel’s participation in the competition during its general assembly meeting today (Thursday, December 4). The Eurovision organizer had postponed an earlier planned vote after Israel and the Palestinian political group Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement in October.
A statement from the EBU reads, in part, “A large majority of Members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place.” Participating broadcasters only voted to adopt rules that would prevent governments and third parties from promoting songs.
Irish public broadcaster RTÉ was the first to announce it was pulling out of Eurovision, writing in a statement that “Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there.” Spanish national broadcasting network RTVE, the Netherlands’ Avotros, and Slovenia’s RTVSLO all followed suit. Collectively, the four countries represent a total of 14 Eurovision victories, with Ireland holding the record—tied with Sweden—for most wins by a country with seven.
In October, German chancellor Friedrich Merz threatened to boycott Eurovision if Israel were to be excluded from the competition. “I think it’s a scandal that this is even being discussed. Israel has a place there,” he told the country’s public broadcaster, ARD, in an interview. Austria’s host network, ORF, has also supported Israel’s participation. Austrian singer JJ won Eurovision earlier this year.
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, Austria in May 2026. Israel has won the competition four times, most recently in 2018 for Netta’s “Toy.” The country was required to change the lyrics to its 2024 entry song, “October Rain,” after facing strong opposition from European artists and politicians. Russia was banned from Eurovision in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine.
