Ireland, Slovenia and Spain Quit Eurovision 2026 Over Israel, Pulling 3 National Broadcasts
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 15
Ireland, Slovenia and Spain Quit Eurovision 2026 Over Israel, Pulling 3 National Broadcasts
9 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 15
Three countries — Ireland, Slovenia and Spain — withdrew from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest and their public broadcasters will not air Saturday’s final.
Israel’s inclusion despite its military campaign in Gaza drove the protest, extending a boycott that also saw Iceland and the Netherlands leave the contest.
Ireland’s exit is especially striking because it has won Eurovision seven times, while Spain is part of the contest’s Big Five financial backers and automatic finalists.
RTE will replace the final with a “Father Ted” Eurovision spoof, while Slovenia’s RTV plans to air its “Voices of Palestine” series instead.
The withdrawals underscore how the Gaza war has spilled into one of Europe’s biggest entertainment events even as the final remains available globally on Peacock and YouTube.
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