Eurovision 2026

Israel in

Ireland
Spain
Netherlands
Slovenia

all confirmed out so far.

https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/1204/1547300-rte-to-boycott-eurovision-song-contest-over-israel/

A statement from RTÉ said: "Following today's EBU Winter General Assembly in Geneva at which Israel's participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest was confirmed, RTÉ's position remains unchanged. RTÉ will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTÉ broadcast the competition.

"RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk. RTÉ remains deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory."

Best case scenario right now is they cancel it

This vlogger is a bit too enthusiastic for my taste but he gives a decent rundown of it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTOEmAimB1k

https://wiwibloggs.com/2025/09/26/new-polling-shows-82-of-british-viewers-think-israel-should-not-participate-in-eurovision-2026/285486/

The Guinness Book of World Records stopped taking submissions from Israel and the Palestinian territories after the October 7 terror attack by Hamas, it has been revealed..

Norris McWhirter is officially spinning in his grave, been unable to establish contact with the appointed representative for the individual’s immortal soul that is in hell, but yeah it is spinning!

I boycotted in '19 but haven't any other year. I have since watched that competition on youtube and now have seen every Eurovision ever broadcast, so it's a big thing for me to say that I will be boycotting again this year if nothing changes. I don't think the viewing boycotts are particularly effective but with the terrible decisions the EBU keep on making it just feels wrong to participate.

I know a lot of fans are worried this will kill Eurovision, but I'm more worried that it won't. The best scenario is that they stop condoning genocide, but if they refuse to do so then I'd prefer it actually has consequences, even if that means taking away something that brings me a lot of joy.

I would love it if the countries not joining could stage a benefit concert for Palestine (not a song contest) at the same time

Iceland out

Saw Björk was pushing for that, hope more follow

Nemo has returned their trophy in protest: Independent article on it here.

A thread about 🇮🇱 between 1973 - 2025 🥰

Because let’s DO talk about their time shall we? pic.twitter.com/c9CFASpwHw

— 🇮🇹🇬🇷🇹🇷🍉Aylin🍉🇹🇷🇦🇲🇫🇷 (@VoilalaLucio) December 6, 2025

a visual thread of every Israel entry accompanied with a summary of the heinous crimes committed against Palestinians by them that year.

https://www.nme.com/news/music/portugals-eurovision-entry-at-risk-as-11-entrants-from-festival-da-cancao-refuse-to-represent-country-3917885

Portuguese participants refusing to compete

this is one boycott that will be quite easy for me personally

🇬🇧 BREAKING: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER will be representing the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2026.

His entry will be released in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/leao8N7lAb

— ESC Discord (@ESCdiscord) February 17, 2026

I like the idea of a U.K. politically unable to withdraw but protesting by having their song played through 500 distortion pedals in a chain, though I suspect it won’t be that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XR2RvfZ-68

Anyone watching this tripe? The final is today, yeah?

I might rewatch Barbie Thug later - I do love that RTE are showing A Song For Europe (not actually "instead" unless they were going to be showing the Eurovision on RTE 2)

Actually why wait - have the best thing I saw on the Eurovision in a very long time (and from me, that's high praise!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMq8ofCstMQ

boycotting again this year, we did a random draw for a year and am rewatching 1994

Also boycotting this year - my group were going to watch some old Euro stuff but I think we've ended up all doing different things that are just completely non-Eurovision instead.

Boycotting too. Shame but there are always other things to do

first time not watching in over 20 years but yeah finding something else to do

almost forgot it was on this time, no desire to watch it at all, for the first time in more than a decade

Yep usually would be a fun night of TV but everyone I know in my lefty London bubble wants nothing to do with it for last couple of years

Boycotted. Probably the first time since I was about 8 years old that I didn’t watch it (it’s been 3+ decades).

God knows what would’ve happened if Israel had won. (Which is definitely going to happen in the next couple of years.)

I have boycotted he last couple. Clear that nothing is going to be done about Israel on moral grounds. Also clear there is very little going to be done about them blatantly and consistently manipulating the public voting.

My friend says the winning song might be the worst winner ever btw

The winner was fine. Overall quality a bit lower than usual. Israel got a lot of boos in the room when they were onscreen. “You can vote up to ten times” apparently.

Was previously unlimited. The new rule is the closest they’re going to get to reining in Israel’s efforts to game the voting but it’s nowhere near enough.

My friend says the winning song might be the worst winner ever btw

― imago, Sunday, 17 May 2026 09:07 (eleven hours ago)

There's no way it can be worse than 'Rock'n'Roll Kids'.

My mum told me her NextDoor group were sending out messages to vote for Israel (she did not).

I think the Bulgarian song might have been... good? It was aiming for "dumb Eurovision banger" like the UK entry, except miles better

Israel only came three in the vote this time, which means the ten-vote limit seems to have hurt them, which just underlines how little that vote has been about the music. The New York Times article a few days ago was not a pretty portrait of the organization. Martin Green especially seemed almost Infantino-like in his willingness to gaslight everyone about the rot in his organization.

Third in televote but still second overall, inevitably they're going to cheat their way to victory one year, it's just a matter of time.

Noticed that in the last four years the Jury #1 has beaten the Televote #1 every time which wasn't the case before 2023 and the Israel situation has diminished further the prospect of the Jury and Televote #1 being the same which has never happened iirc. Increased groupthink or confirmation bias around the buzz of a semi-finalist influencing juries more perhaps (maybe even in a somewhat conscious way re preventing an Israel win).

maybe one day they will look at a map and realize Israel isn't in Europe

nor is Australia

Israel's national broadcaster Kan is in the EBU though, and Eurovision's largest sponsor Moroccanoil are also from Israel. Not saying any of this is good, but this is why.