Eurovision 2026: Boycott, controversy and tensions surrounding Israel's participation

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest 2026, held this Saturday, May 16th in Vienna, begins in a highly charged atmosphere. For several days, calls for a boycott have been mounting against Israel's participation, accused by its opponents of using the contest to improve its international image amidst the war in Gaza. Five countries have decided to withdraw from the competition: Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia.

More than 1,100 artists, including Macklemore, Peter Gabriel, and Massive Attack, have signed an open letter calling for a cultural boycott of Israel. In France, several political figures, such as François Ruffin, Rima Hassan, and Thomas Portes, support this call, as does Amnesty International. Conversely, Stéphane Bern has denounced the political manipulation of the competition.

An unprecedented crisis for Eurovision

While Eurovision has experienced geopolitical tensions in the past, notably between Greece and Turkey or around Armenia and Azerbaijan, several experts believe that the 2026 edition marks a historic turning point. This time, countries central to the contest's history and funding, such as Spain and the Netherlands, are withdrawing. The European Broadcasting Union is also facing accusations of a lack of neutrality.

The controversy intensified following revelations of a mobilization campaign orchestrated by Israel during previous elections. According to several media outlets and an internal EBU investigation, diplomatic networks and sponsored campaigns were allegedly used to encourage diasporas to vote overwhelmingly for the Israeli candidate. In response to this criticism, the EBU reduced the maximum number of votes allowed per person from 20 to 10.

Despite the media storm, Israel remains eligible to participate because its national broadcaster is a member of the EBU, as are other non-European countries such as Australia and Azerbaijan. However, this 2026 edition, held under tight security in Vienna, could leave a lasting mark on the image of a contest that historically aimed to be a symbol of cultural unity and transcending political divisions.