The 70th Eurovision will proceed in Vienna with 35 countries — the smallest line-up since 2004 — following a boycott by five public broadcasters protesting Israel's participation. The dispute stems from concerns over Israel's conduct in Gaza and suspicions of televote irregularities in 2025. The EBU has introduced voting and fraud-detection reforms, but trust must be rebuilt; ticket sales on January 13 will be an early test of public support.
Eurovision 2026 Hit by Biggest Political Boycott Ahead of 70th Anniversary
Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, finished second at Eurovision 2025 (Fabrice COFFRINI)(Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP/AFP)
The Eurovision Song Contest will mark its 70th anniversary in Vienna next May, but the celebration is clouded by the contest's largest coordinated political boycott to date. Organisers say 35 countries will compete — the smallest field since the 2004 expansion — after five public broadcasters announced they would not participate because of Israel's involvement.
Who Is Boycotting and Why
Public broadcasters in Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain have publicly declared they will not send delegations, citing concerns about Israel's role in the two-year war in Gaza, allegations of televote irregularities at Eurovision 2025, and wider questions about press freedom and adherence to EBU values.
Numbers And Context
Organisers confirmed 35 participating countries, a total bolstered by the return of Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova. Once the lights go up in Vienna, the production is expected to look like a conventional Eurovision — complete with spectacle, staging and fanfare — but the boycott is almost certain to shape the mood and public debate around the event.
Concerns Over Voting And Media Freedom
Some critics pointed to unusual televote patterns in Basel at Eurovision 2025, when Israel topped the public vote amid sequences of maximum points from several countries. That episode intensified calls for better fraud detection and more transparent voting.
“This is not going to be the festival of rainbows and kisses as it was in the past. There’s great unease colouring everything,”
Broadcasters also raised concerns about media freedom and the EBU’s values after reports of restrictions on journalists trying to cover Gaza and incidents where Palestinian journalists were killed.
Reforms And The Road Ahead
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has adopted measures to strengthen the voting system, boost fraud detection and limit government-backed promotional campaigns. How effectively those reforms are implemented in the run-up to and during Vienna 2026 will influence whether boycotting broadcasters return and whether artists and fans remain engaged.
Catherine Baker of the University of Hull, who researches Eurovision's cultural politics, warned that domestic selection contests are already under pressure: many contenders in Portugal's selection have vowed not to attend if they win, and other artists may decline to participate to protect careers or take principled stands.
Public Reaction And Early Tests
Ticket sales — scheduled to open on January 13 — are being watched as an early barometer of public appetite. Organisers and commentators say Vienna will still offer spectacle, but uncertainty lingers about whether the contest can retain its image as a unifying cultural celebration.
Dean Vuletic, author of Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, characterised the situation as an unprecedented crisis for the contest, noting that Eurovision has long reflected wider political currents across the continent.
As preparations continue, the outcome of the EBU's reforms, artist decisions, and public engagement will determine whether Eurovision 2026 is remembered mainly for glitz or for a deep political rift.
