Spain, Ireland and Slovenia Boycott 70th Eurovision Broadcast Over Israel's Participation in 70th Contest
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · May 11
Spain, Ireland and Slovenia Boycott 70th Eurovision Broadcast Over Israel's Participation in 70th Contest
11 articles · Updated · DW (English) · May 11
Three public broadcasters — Spain's RTVE, Ireland's RTE and Slovenia's RTV — said Monday they will not air this week's 70th Eurovision Song Contest, escalating a boycott tied to Israel's inclusion.
The move follows pressure on organizers to exclude Israel over the Gaza war, with critics pointing to Russia's 2022 ban and to lingering controversy after Israel placed second in 2025.
Spain will replace Eurovision with "The House of Music," Ireland will stream a Eurovision-themed "Father Ted" episode during Saturday's final, and Slovenia will run a Palestine-focused program series.
Iceland and the Netherlands, which had also said last year they would boycott the 2026 contest, still plan to broadcast the event despite not taking part.
The European Broadcasting Union's annual spectacle runs Tuesday through Saturday and still draws about 160 million TV viewers, underscoring the scale of the dispute.
With its 'apolitical' claim shattered, can the Eurovision Song Contest survive its biggest crisis in 70 years?
Is the Eurovision winner now decided by a country's political power instead of its music?