Why are countries pulling out of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest?

Iceland’s exit follows similar announcements from Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland in the last week.

Each of these nations announced they would be pulling out of the 2026 event over concerns about Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as well as frustration with the EBU’s decisions, and a belief that Eurovision is failing in its mission to unite people through music.

The Dutch public broadcaster, AVROTROS, argued that Israel’s involvement was ‘no longer compatible with the responsibility we bear as a public broadcaster.’ In its announcement, the organisation highlighted Israel’s violations of ‘universal values like humanity and a free press’ and stated that the spirit that has long defined Eurovision ‘can no longer be taken for granted.’

Spain’s broadcaster, RTVE, raised its own series of objections at the EBU’s general assembly, holding ‘serious doubts’ about Israel remaining in the competition. That meeting also ushered in major changes to voting rules, following allegations that juries had manipulated the vote during the 2025 contest in Basel.

The Basel voting controversy is one that has haunted Eurovision for months.

‘Eurovision is becoming a bit of a fractured event,’ said Paul Jordan, an academic known as Dr. Eurovision. ‘The slogan is “United by Music”… unfortunately it’s disunited through politics. It’s become quite a messy and toxic situation.’

In Portugal, 17 artists competing in the national selection show Festival da Canção announced they would refuse to represent the country if they won.

In their statement, the contestants criticised the EBU for allowing Israel to compete while Russia remains banned for its invasion of Ukraine. Referencing the United Nations’ continued warnings about the humanitarian crisis and genocide in Gaza, they said, ‘We do not accept complicity with the violation of Human Rights.’

Portugal’s broadcaster, RTP, said it would still hold Festival da Canção and still support sending its winning contestant to Eurovision. This caused Salvador Sobral, Portugal’s only Eurovision champion, to publicly accuse RTP of ‘political cowardice.’

A petition calling for Portugal’s withdrawal from Eurovision has already gained nearly 25,000 signatures.

Eurovision is set for May 16, 2026 in Vienna. Whether more countries join the boycott over Israel’s participation remains to be seen, but this scandal will go down as one of the biggest controversies in Eurovision’s 70-year history.

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