VIENNA: The public broadcasters for Spain, Ireland and Slovenia said on Monday they will not show the 70th anniversary Eurovision Song Contest this week, as they boycott the TV extravaganza over Israel’s participation.
The three countries, along with the Netherlands and Iceland, pulled out of this year’s event in Vienna, which kicks off on Tuesday and culminates in Saturday’s grand final.
Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip prompted the five countries to withdraw from the world’s biggest live televised music event — with Eurovision director Martin Green vowing to do “anything in our power to find a pathway back” for them.
Suspicions were also raised that the public televoting system was being manipulated to boost Israel at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Furthermore, some broadcasters voiced concerns about media freedom, with Israel preventing their journalists from accessing Gaza.
“Instead of the Eurovision circus, the national television programme will be coloured by the thematic programme series ‘Voices of Palestine’,” Slovenian broadcaster RTV said.
Ireland are joint-record seven-time Eurovision winners, but on Saturday, RTE will be showing a Eurovision-themed episode of the popular 1990s Irish-based sitcom “Father Ted” instead. Spain’s RTVE will run its own musical special, “The House of Music”. Public service broadcasters in the Netherlands and Iceland will screen the competition, despite neither taking part.
Only 35 countries will take part in Eurovision this year — the fewest since entry was expanded in 2004 — following the five withdrawals. As to whether those countries could return, Eurovision chief Green said: “We’ve got five members of our family missing this year. We miss them and we love them and we hope they come back.
Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2026
