Eurovision faces deeper turmoil as Belgium and Iceland are speculated to join the growing boycott over Israel’s participation in the competition.

Following the decision by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to forego a vote on Israel’s involvement, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have already declared their withdrawal from next year’s event.

The public broadcasters from these nations announced their decision to abstain from the contest, which is slated for May in Austria, citing objections to the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.

Belgium and Iceland may soon join the boycott. Belgium has yet to confirm its participation and previously indicated it might withdraw if Israel remains included.

Belgium’s broadcaster VRT expressed disappointment, stating they regret the EBU’s lack of action to uphold the contest’s unifying spirit.

In a statement, broadcaster VRT said they regret that the ‘EBU is not doing more to restore the unifying nature of the song contest’. 

While Iceland, the only Nordic country to cast doubt on its participation, will make a decision next week. 

The BBC has confirmed that they ‘support the collective decision’ made by the EBU, adding that ‘this is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive.’

The pullouts came after members of the EBU, which organises Eurovision, voted to adopt tougher voting rules in response to allegations that Israel had manipulated the vote in favour of their contestant. 

Immediately after the announcement, Irish broadcaster RTE said that Ireland’s participation ‘remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and humanitarian crisis’.

Dutch broadcaster Avrotros also confirmed it would withdraw from the contest, meaning the Netherlands will not compete in the competition, which draws millions of viewers worldwide. 

‘After weighing all perspectives, Avrotros concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation,’ the Dutch broadcaster said.

The secretary general of Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE, Alfonso Morales said: ‘The situation in Gaza, despite the ceasefire and the approval of the peace process, and the use of the contest for political goals by Israel, make it increasingly difficult to keep Eurovision a neutral cultural event.’ 

Slovenia’s national broadcaster also announced it will boycott the contest over Israel’s participation.

RTV Slovenia board chairwoman Natalija Gorscak said: ‘For the third year in a row, the public has demanded that we say no to the participation of any country that attacks another country.

‘We must follow European standards for peace and understanding. Eurovision has been a place for joy and happiness from the very beginning, performers and audiences have been united by music, and it should remain that way.’

She added: ‘Our message is: we will not participate in Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is there. On behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza.’

In a statement on Dutch broadcaster Avrotros’s website, general director Taco Zimmerman said: ‘This has not been an easy decision, nor one taken lightly. 

‘The Eurovision Song Contest is of great importance to us. Culture unites, but not at any price.

‘What has happened over the past year has tested the limits of what we can uphold. Universal values such as humanity and press freedom have been seriously compromised, and for us, these values are non-negotiable.

‘As a public broadcaster, we have a responsibility to remain true to our core values, even when that is difficult or sensitive.’    

Finland and Sweden had also previously indicated they would consider dropping out of the competition unless Israel is excluded, but will not boycott next year’s contest.

Norway’s NRK broadcaster said it does not engage in boycotts while Denmark’s DR previously said it believes the event is a culture unifier.

DR said it would not support Israel’s removal from the competition ‘as long as they comply with the rules and regulations’. Germany also indicated it will pull out if Israel is excluded.

Despite the pullouts, the EBU said after a meeting in Geneva that there had been ‘clear support’ among members for reforms implemented to ‘reinforce trust and protect neutrality’. 

‘A large majority of members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place,’ a statement read.  

 Members overwhelmingly voted to back new rules intended to discourage governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to sway voters after allegations that Israel unfairly boosted its entrant this year.

‘This vote means that all EBU Members who wish to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and agree to comply with the new rules are eligible to take part,’ the EBU said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said his country ‘deserves to be represented on every stage around the world’, following the announcement that it can take part in next year’s contest.

‘I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding,’ Herzog said on X.

‘Thank you to all our friends who stood up for Israel’s right to continue to contribute and compete at Eurovision. This decision demonstrates solidarity, fellowship, and cooperation, and reinforces the spirit of affinity between nations through culture and music.’

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also welcomed the announcement as he slammed the countries choosing to boycott the event next year after the decision.

‘I welcome the decision of the European Broadcasting Union. I am ashamed of those countries that chose to boycott a music competition like Eurovision because of Israel’s participation. The disgrace is upon them,’ Saar said on X.

The Conservatives have said it is ‘absolutely right’ for Israel to be part of Eurovision and that boycotts announced by several countries are ‘deeply concerning’.

Shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston said: ‘It is absolutely right that Israel has been allowed to participate in Eurovision.

‘It is deeply concerning to see so many countries choosing to boycott the event because of Israel’s inclusion. Music should be a uniting force, not a tool to be weaponised for political ends.

‘We trust the Government will clearly rule out joining or legitimising this boycott in any capacity.’

It comes after anti-Israel protesters disrupted both the 2024 and 2025 contests, citing concern over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities.

During this year’s final in Switzerland, Israel’s contestant Yuval Raphael, an October 7 survivor, was booed and jeered while two people attempted to storm the stage to throw paint over her.

Israel finished in second place behind the Austrian winner, despite only receiving 60 points from the juries.

The remaining 297 points came from the public, who overwhelmingly favoured Israel’s entry over any other country. 

Those results prompted broadcasters from Spain, Iceland, Belgium, Finland, and Ireland to either request audits of their national televoting results or question the current methodology.

There were also reports last year that an Israeli government agency paid for adverts and used social media to encourage people to vote for its entry. 

Israel has not responded to these accusations but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign.

Last month, Eurovision organisers confirmed fans will only be allowed to cast ten votes each ahead of the Eurovision contest in Vienna in 2026, and juries will be reintroduced to the semi-finals round.

If members are not convinced the rules are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically.  

The televised annual celebration of pop music, watched by around 150million viewers worldwide, aims to be non-political, but the Gaza war has embroiled it in controversy. 

Calls to exclude Israel from Eurovision intensified in recent months following the war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 massacre against Israel. 

In April, shortly before the 2025 contest in Basel, formal requests to ban Israel were submitted by several countries, including Iceland and Spain.

The Austrian winner of this year’s contest, JJ, called for Israel to be suspended from Eurovision, though he later walked back those comments.

Austria has publicly rejected the calls for a boycott, while Australia and France have confirmed they would not withdraw over Israel’s presence.

Austria’s foreign minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, said boycotting Eurovision would only deepen divisions.

‘As foreign minister of the host country, I am deeply concerned about the risk of a rift between the members of the European Broadcasting Union on this issue,’ she wrote last month.

‘Such a rift would only deepen the discord and preclude opportunities for important dialogue between artists and the public – without improving the situation on the ground in Israel and Gaza.

‘Excluding Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest or boycotting the event would neither alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor contribute to a sustainable political solution.’

Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) said it would continue to cover Eurovision in 2026.

‘Our position remains that, as a public broadcaster, making a decision to be involved based on the inclusion or exclusion of any country would undermine SBS’s editorial independence and impartiality,’ a spokesperson said.

‘SBS recognises and respects the deeply held views and concerns about the war in the Middle East and its impact, both locally among our audiences and internationally as reflected by other broadcasters.

‘Our responsibility is to provide comprehensive, trusted and impartial coverage for Australians across our network, and we will continue to do so.’