Countries to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates

In the past few days the broadcasters of several Eurovision countries have made comments about their participation at Eurovision 2026, and how it will be affected if Israel is allowed to compete.

The flurry of statements recently is due to the fact broadcasters have until September 15 to apply for Eurovision 2026 participation.

Several countries have expressed concern about Israel being allowed to compete at Eurovision next year.

In response interim Eurovision executive supervisor Martin Green released a statement on September 10:

"We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the going conflict in the Middle East. We are still consulting with all EBU Members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Eurovision Song Contest.

Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year's event in Vienna."

Before this announcement broadcasters were able to withdraw their Eurovision participation by October 13 without facing any penalties. Pushing this date back to mid-December indicates the unprecedented situation the EBU faces.

Another reason for this date push back is the 95th EBU General Assembly that will take place in Geneva on December 4 and 5. Israel's participation at Eurovision will almost certainly be discussed, and possibly voted on.

Several Eurovision countries have already indicated they may not or even will not compete in Vienna if Israel does.

Spain

September 16 saw Spain announce that they would withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates.

The decision was made after a majority of board members of Spain's Eurovision broadcaster RTVE voted in favour of the proposal. There were ten votes for, four votes against and one abstention.

The announcement is significant as the Spain is the first Big Five country to declare this intention. If Spain were to withdraw it would have significant repercussions, as the country is one of the largest financial contributors of Eurovision.

News of RTVE's announcement has made major headlines globally, with even major American media outlets reporting this decision.

If Spain does boycott Eurovision 2026, it will be the first time the Iberian country has withdrawn from the contest, and would break a streak of 64 consecutive participations stretching back to 1961 when it debuted.

This decision by RTVE comes after many months of lobbying by the broadcaster towards the EBU to consider Israel's participation at the contest.

At the EBU General Assembly meeting in London in July RTVE was the main proponent arguing for a debate about Israel's Eurovision participation at the next meeting in Geneva in December. It also urged for a review of the voting system.

RTVE has confirmed though that Benidorm Fest, traditionally the country's Eurovision national selection, will go ahead in 2026 regardless of Spain's Eurovision participation.

Netherlands

On September 12 AVROTOS released a statement outlining that "the broadcaster has ... decided that participation ... in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will not be possible as long as Israel is admitted by the EBU."

They also remarked: "Should the EBU decide not to admit Israel, AVROTROS will gladly take part next year. Pending that decision, all preparations will for the time being continue as planned."

The reason for the AVROTROS's decision is because it "can no longer justify Israel's participation ... given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza ... [and] concern about the serious erosion of press freedom."

AVROTOS would be a significant blow to the EBU given it is the largest financial contributor to the organisation outside of the Big Five.

Ireland

At around 12:30pm Irish time on September 11, Irish Eurovision broadcaster RTÉ also announced it would be withdrawing from Eurovision 2026 if Israel was allowed to compete.

In the statement the broadcaster thanked the EBU for its "extensive consultation process ... and the extension of the option to withdraw from participation without penalty to December."

The reason for Ireland's decision is because "RTÉ feels that Ireland's participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza. RTÉ is also deeply concerned about the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza ... the denial of access to international journalists ... and the plight of the remaining hostages."

RTÉ's decision made international news and was even noted by broadcasters other than SBS here in Australia.

Slovenia

The Balkan country was the first to definitively announce it would not compete at Eurovision 2026 if Israel was invited.

In a statement by Slovenian Eurovision broadcaster RTV SLO on September 4, the broadcaster claimed that at a EBU General Assembly meeting in London as early as July, Slovenia had made this decision clear to the EBU.

Earlier this month Ksenija Horvat, director of Television Slovenia, had been pessimistic about Slovenia competing at Eurovision remarking "we realistically think that we won't be able to go the Eurovision Song Contest."

That may all change as more countries threaten to withdraw.

Iceland

Like Spain, Iceland will make a final decision in December about whether to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel is allowed to compete.

In an interview with Icelandic online newspaper Vísir, Stefán Jón Hafstein, chairman of Iceland's Eurovision broadcaster Rúv, stated that the broadcaster also raised concerns at the July EBU General Assembly about Israel's participation.

He went on to mention that he personally believes Israel should not be allowed to compete at Eurovision and that "[Rúv] have made it clear to everyone that there is a reservation about our involvement [in Eurovision 2026]".

Whilst being a small country, Iceland's withdrawal from Eurovision may also be important given internationally it is one of the most recognisable Eurovision countries thanks to the release of the 2020 movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

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There are unconfirmed reports that other Eurovision broadcasters have decided or are considering withdrawing from Eurovision if Israel is allowed to compete, so there may be more statements made in the coming days.

Conversely RTVE reported that at the July EBU General Assembly several countries such as Germany - the largest Eurovision contributor, 2026 host country Austria, Cyprus, Greece and Switzerland were supportive of Israel's Eurovision participation. This is despite several Eurovision representatives from these countries, including this year's Austrian winner JJ, being adamant Israel should be banned from the contest.

If several countries were to withdraw from Eurovision it would have serious ramifications.

Participation at Eurovision is already at a low ebb, with only 37 countries competing at this year's contest. If any more countries withdraw it would seriously question the validity of the two semi-final system. The EBU may be forced to resort to just two Eurovision shows - a Thursday night semi final and Saturday night Grand Final. This would seriously impact the contest's revenue as Eurovision week and the amount of content to broadcast would both be drastically shortened.

Conversely the withdrawal of significant Eurovision financial contributors, like Spain and the Netherlands, could mean Eurovision may not be able to take place at all.

It is uncertain times for Eurovision. One certainty though is that we at Aussievision will keep you updated about this unfolding potential boycott situation.

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