The Netherlands has announced it will join Slovenia, Iceland, Spain, and Ireland in boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel remains in the competition. The move adds momentum to growing calls for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to suspend Israel amid the Gaza conflict.
Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS said in a statement that Eurovision was founded on values of peace and unity but argued Israel’s participation was incompatible with “severe human suffering in Gaza, suppression of press freedom, and political interference.” Similar concerns have been raised by Ireland’s broadcaster RTÉ, while Spain’s Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun also warned that Madrid could not “normalize Israel’s participation” and branded the Israeli government “genocidal.”
The backlash follows protests at the 2024 contest in Malmö and an open letter signed by more than 70 former Eurovision participants urging a ban. Austria’s 2025 winner JJ also echoed the call. The EBU has extended its withdrawal deadline to December, when a final decision will be made on Israel’s status ahead of the contest’s 70th anniversary edition in Vienna next May.
