Four countries pull out of Eurovision over Israel involvement

Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia say they won't take part in Eurovision in 2026.

They and other countries had called for a vote on whether Israel should be excluded from the competition over the war in Gaza, as well as claims of unfair voting.

Approximately 50 broadcasters, including the BBC, attended a meeting of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on Thursday to discuss the future of the contest, which is watched by more than 150 million people each year.

Other countries supported Israel, including Germany who had threatened to pull out if Israel was excluded, and Israel's president welcomed the fact that his country will continue to take part.

Israel has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 47 times, since its first appearance in 1973.

It hosted the event in 1977, 1999 and 2019 and won in 1998. Last year, Israel came second but there have also been protests about their involvement, including during performances.

BBC Music correspondent Mark Savage explained tensions have been growing because of the war in Gaza, along with arguments over voting, after allegations that Israel unfairly boosted its 2025 entrant, Yuval Raphael.

This led to Spain and seven other broadcasters trying to force a vote on Israel's participation. Organisers said no to that request, putting forward new rules to make sure public voting was fair.

Those new voting rules were agreed, but that was followed by four countries (Ireland, Spain, Netherlands and Slovenia) announcing they wouldn't take part, and others saying they haven't decided yet whether they will participate, including Belgium and Iceland.

Ireland's broadcaster RTÉ said it wouldn't participate given the "loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there".

Spanish broadcaster RTVE said that it was agreed "last September that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision if Israel was part of it."

The Netherlands' broadcaster Avrotros said it wouldn't take part due to "the public values that are fundamental to our organisation".

Slovenia's broadcaster said: "As a public service broadcaster, RTV Slovenia is committed to upholding ethical principles and expects that equal rules and standards apply to all EBU members and all participating countries."

Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said he was "pleased" that members had been given an "opportunity to debate" Israel's place in the contest.

He also said 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".

Israel's President Isaac Herzog said Israel "deserves to be represented on every stage in the world, and I am fully and actively committed to that".

And Golan Yochpaz, from Israel's TV broadcaster KAN, said: "A boycott may begin today - with Israel - but no-one knows where it will end or who else it may harm."

German broadcaster ARD, which had threatened to leave the contest if Israel was removed, said it regretted the decision of members to withdraw but said it was "looking forward to participating" next year, "embracing it as a celebration of cultural diversity and solidarity".

The BBC, which broadcasts Eurovision in the UK, said in a statement: "We support the collective decision made by members of the EBU. This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive."