Eurovision Drama: Guess Which Country Refused to Say "Goodbye"—And No, It’s Not Just For the Falafel
Added on December 4, 2025 inMusic News Cards
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If you’ve ever wondered what happens when Mercury’s in retrograde, the Moon’s in Aquarius, and the world’s most flamboyant singing contest finds itself tangled in political theatrics—have I got a soap opera (er, news story?) for you . The Eurovision Song Contest, which used to be just glitz, sequins, and questionable choreography, now finds itself awash in controversy thicker than a Leo’s hair gel . Israel’s place at the mic? Still safe, says the European Broadcasting Union, but not everyone is here for the high notes . Several countries—yes, you, Spain and the Netherlands—are grabbing their coats and skipping next year’s party in Vienna . Is Eurovision truly about unity, or have geopolitics turned this disco ball into a spinning battle globe? Are the stars aligned for harmony, or just another round of cosmic drama? If you like your international pop with a side of political intrigue (and honestly, who doesn’t on a day like this?), this is one headline you can’t ignore . LEARN MORE
Israel will remain in Eurovision.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) the body that organizes the eclectic, but hugely popular, annual international singing competition, decided on Thursday that Israel be allowed to participate in next year’s event as planned. Several European countries, including Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands, announced they will boycott next year’s Eurovision in protest.
Broadcasters from a number of European countries had called for Israel to be excluded from the competition due to the war in Gaza. Russia was banned from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The EBU, which held its general assembly in Geneva on Thursday, did not hold a vote on Israel’s participation. Instead, the group issued a statement saying “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.”
Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, together with seven other countries, had formally requested a secret ballot to vote on Israel’s participation. On Thursday, RTVE said it would boycott next’s year’s event and would not broadcast the semi-finals or the contest itself, to be held in Vienna.
“The EBU presidency has denied RTVE’s request for a specific vote on Israel’s participation. This decision increases RTVE’s distrust of the festival’s organization and confirms the political pressure surrounding it,” the networks said in a statement.
Public broadcasters in the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia joined Spain in boycotting Eurovision 2026.
The EBU on Thursday voted only to introduce new rules designed to stop governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters. Some countries had raised concerns over undue promotion methods after this year’s Eurovision, when Israeli entry Yuval Raphael topped the public voting charts with her song “New Day Will Rise,” eventually placing second to Austria when the jury scores were counted. Israel has won Eurovision four times since its debut in 1973.
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