Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands announced on Thursday that they will withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest after organisers confirmed that Israel will remain eligible to compete.
The decision came shortly after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) concluded a meeting in Geneva, where members reviewed Israel’s participation amid growing calls for the country’s exclusion over the ongoing Gaza war and threats of a boycott from several broadcasters.
Despite the pressure, EBU members opted not to hold a vote on Israel’s status. Instead, they approved a series of “targeted changes” to strengthen neutrality, transparency, and independence from political influence within the contest.
“This vote means all EBU members who agree to the new rules can participate in Eurovision 2026,” the EBU said in a statement.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed the outcome, thanking allies who defended Israel’s right to take part. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticised the boycotting nations, saying he was “ashamed” by their actions.
The meeting also followed fresh guidelines designed to prevent governments or external parties from influencing votes. According to the EBU, Israel risked a formal vote on exclusion if members had not agreed to the structural reforms.
While Israel’s public broadcaster KAN rejected any attempt to bar its artists, saying such moves amounted to a “cultural boycott,” several European countries reacted strongly to the decision.
Spain’s RTVE announced its “withdrawal” just hours after the meeting. Ireland’s RTÉ said it would neither participate in nor broadcast the contest. Dutch broadcaster Avrotros also pulled out, saying Eurovision participation was “incompatible” with its public values under the current circumstances. Slovenia’s public broadcaster similarly cited ongoing violence in Gaza.
Slovenian broadcaster chief Natalija Gorščak said a ceasefire was “not a real peace agreement,” noting that if Israel had voluntarily stepped back until the situation stabilised, “there would be no disputes.”
Eurovision — watched by 166 million viewers last year — has long insisted it is apolitical, though recent years have seen growing protests, including demonstrations at the past two contests. Russia was expelled in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.
Some countries, such as Germany, continue to support Israel’s participation. “There must be no Eurovision without Israel,” German officials previously said.
However, analysts say the contest is increasingly divided. “Eurovision is becoming a fractured event,” expert Paul Jordan told AP. “The slogan is ‘United by Music,’ but politics keeps pulling it apart.”
