Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands to boycott Eurovision 2026 as Israel cleared to compete

"Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands will boycott next year's Eurovision after Israel was given the all-clear to compete in next year's song contest in spite of several participating broadcasters calling for its exclusion. At the general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union, the body that organises the hugely popular international annual singing competition, no vote on Israel's participation was held. Instead, participating broadcasters voted only to introduce new rules designed to stop governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters."

"In response, the Spanish broadcaster RTVE said it would not broadcast the contest, or the semi-finals in Vienna next year, calling the process of decision-making as insufficient and engendering distrust. RTVE, along with seven other countries, had formally requested a secret ballot at the a summit of broadcasters in Geneva on Thursday. The EBU presidency has denied RTVE's request for a specific vote on Israel's participation. This decision increases RTVE's distrust of the festival's organisation and confirms the political pressure surrounding it,"

Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands will boycott next year's Eurovision after Israel was given the all-clear to compete despite calls for its exclusion. At the European Broadcasting Union general assembly, no vote on Israel's participation was held; members instead voted to introduce rules preventing governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters. A large majority agreed there was no need for a further vote and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed with additional safeguards. Spanish broadcaster RTVE said it would not broadcast the contest and had requested a secret ballot, which the EBU presidency denied. Dutch broadcaster Avrotros also withdrew, citing an irreconcilability with its public values, and broadcasters including Iceland and Slovenia had previously threatened boycotts.

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