Eurovision winner calls for Israel to excluded from 2026 contest
Briefly

The Eurovision Song Contest’s 2025 winner JJ has publicly called for Israel to be barred from the competition scheduled in Austria in 2026. Following his victory with the song "Wasted Love," JJ expressed disappointment over Israel’s continued participation, especially amid protests against it, highlighting political tensions due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The Swiss-hosted contest in 2025 saw protestors voicing their dissent as well. Additionally, over 70 former Eurovision artists have signed an open letter supporting the exclusion of Israel, raising further concerns among artists about the situation.
The EBU's decision to allow Israel to compete in the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland, prompted protests on the ground, with protestors gathering along Eurovision's famous turquoise carpet.
Over 70 former Eurovision stars, including the UK's Mae Muller, signed an open letter ahead of the 2025 contest calling for Israel to be banned from taking part.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
[
|
]