Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands pull out after decision not to hold vote on Israel’s participation

Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands will boycott next year’s Eurovision after Israel was given the all-clear to compete in the 2026 song contest despite calls by several participating broadcasters for its exclusion over the war in Gaza.

No vote on Israel’s participation was held on Thursday at the general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the body that organises the hugely popular international annual singing competition.

Instead, participating broadcasters voted only to introduce new rules designed to stop governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters.

  • suddenlyme@lemmy.zipEnglish
    21·
    3 hours ago

    I think there is a huge economic loss. Every country pays a fee, if one country leaves the fee for the other countries goes up. The fee is not equal, some countries pay way more. It went up when Russia was banned and some countries could no longer afford the fee. I think Israel pays heaps. But if Ireland, Spain are boycotting obviously that is also bad as they will also be paying heaps.