Boycotters Spain, Ireland, Slovenia will not show Eurovision
The broadcasters cited Israel’s participation and Gaza war concerns, and the boycott leaves 35 countries in the contest, officials said.
- Five countries—Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—are boycotting Eurovision 2026 this week in Vienna, Austria, over Israel's participation in the competition.
- Broadcasters cited the ongoing war in Gaza and erosion of press freedom as reasons for withdrawal; the International Federation of Journalists estimated at least 235 Palestinian journalists have been killed since October 2023.
- Spain, one of the Big Five nations, joined the boycott, while Slovenia's national broadcaster RTV Slovenia is refusing to air the contest entirely and broadcasting Palestinian documentaries instead.
- Eurovision Director Martin Green stated the Eurovision Broadcasting Union "respects the decision" of broadcasters withdrawing, while 35 countries remain competing in this year's contest.
- Vienna's Wiener Stadthalle hosts the contest, with semi-finals scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 14, followed by the grand final on Saturday, May 16.
121 Articles
121 Articles
Eurovision Song Contest gets off to a tense start, overshadowed by Gaza
VIENNA, May 12 - The Eurovision Song Contest gets off to a tense start in Vienna on Tuesday with a protest due to be held hours before the first semi-final featuring Israel, whose attendance prompted five countries to boycott over the Gaza war. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Because they criticize Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip and accuse the country of being manipulated by the ESC, five states remain outside the competition. The dispute over dealings with Israel also stands for a debate in the EU. By K. Schmid.
RTE using Father Ted as ‘tool of antisemitic harassment’, says Graham Linehan
The broadcaster is boycotting Eurovision and will show an episode of Father Ted in its place. Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has said he objects “in the strongest possible terms” to the comedy being shown in place of Eurovision and accused broadcaster RTE of an “antisemitic” boycott. Ireland’s national broadcaster will show the sitcom’s Eurovision-themed episode A Song For Europe, where priests Ted and Dougal perform My Lovely Horse, as pa…
According to the three countries, the decision seeks to exert pressure on the European Broadcasting Union (ERU) and to make the international rejection of Israeli actions visible.
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