Five Countries Boycott Eurovision 2026 Over Israel's Participation
For the first time, five countries—Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia—are boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 to protest Israel's participation. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are planned for Saturday, May 16, in Vienna, Austria, where the final will be held. The boycott marks an unprecedented collective action against Israel's involvement in the event.
Key facts
- Five countries are boycotting Eurovision 2026: Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia.
- The boycott is to protest Israel's participation.
- Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are scheduled for May 16 in Vienna.
- The Eurovision 2026 final takes place in Vienna, Austria.
- This is the first time multiple countries have boycotted Eurovision over Israel's involvement.
Entities
Artists
- Yuval Raphael
- Noam Bettan
- Dana International
- Kalush Orchestra
- Sam Ryder
- Pete Parkkonen
- Linda Lampenius
- Loreen
- Martin Green
- Rob Lilley-Jones
- Marcos Maximillian Tritremmel
- Philip Dore
- Dean Vuletic
- Delta Goodrem
- Cosmo
- JJ
- Macklemore
- Massive Attack
Institutions
- Eurovision Song Contest
- Le Monde
- European Broadcasting Union
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
- Kan (Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation)
- RTV (Slovenia)
- RÚV (Iceland)
- Avrotros (Netherlands)
- RTVE (Spain)
- BBC
- VRT (Flanders)
- Hamas
- RTVE
- Wiener Stadthalle
- University of Linnaeus
- AFP
- New York Times
- Eurovision Hub
- Eirevision podcast
- ESC Insight
- Euro Trip podcast
- Der Spiegel
- Austria's Eurovision fan club
- Union européenne de radio-télévision (UER)
- KAN
- CGT du spectacle
Locations
- Spain
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Netherlands
- Slovenia
- Israel
- Vienna
- Austria
- Gaza
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Tel Aviv
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Cyprus
- Turkey
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Nagorno-Karabakh
- Lebanon
- Morocco
- Madrid
- Moscow
- Iran
- Sweden
- Malmö
- Finland
- Greece
- Denmark
- France
- Australia
- Germany
- Italy
- United Kingdom