This year’s Eurovision Song Contest is facing the most serious crisis in its history. Several national broadcasters – including members of the “Big Five” – are threatening to withdraw if Israel remains in the competition.
The boycott threats come in response to Israel’s military operation in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
The organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), has given countries a deadline until mid-December to decide whether they will participate in the 2026 contest, set to be held in Vienna.
Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has already voted in favor of a boycott should Israel not be excluded. The Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia have issued similar warnings, while France, Belgium, Sweden, and Finland are also reportedly considering pulling out.
According to Eurovision expert Paul Jordan, the situation is unprecedented, as “there has never before been such a threat of a mass boycott.” He emphasized that the possible withdrawal of major countries like Spain and France “could dismantle the financing model” of the contest, given their role as members of the “Big Five.”
The EBU now faces a major dilemma regarding political neutrality. While Russia was excluded in 2022 over its invasion of Ukraine, Israel’s broadcaster KAN has so far been treated as politically neutral. Critics, however, point to a “double standard,” especially after intensified politicization of the issue and protests against the Israeli delegation in this year’s contest, reports The Sun.
