The Netherlands will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates, as stated by the Dutch broadcaster AVOTROS on Friday, citing the “ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza”.
The Dutch have joined a growing list of European countries threatening to withdraw from the contest, which will be held in Vienna, including Ireland and Spain.
“It is RTE’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if the participation of Israel goes ahead,” Ireland stated in a statement shared by the Irish state broadcaster RTE.
“RTE feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza,” it added.
Ireland has won Eurovision seven times, more than any other country.
A final decision will be made when the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) makes a ruling on the matter, following concerns raised by several members at a general assembly in July, it said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in May that Israel should be excluded in the future.
Noting that Russia had not been allowed to participate since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he said, “Israel shouldn’t either because what we cannot allow is double standards in culture”.
Eurovision is organized by the EBU in cooperation with its members, national public service broadcasters such as RTE, in over 35 countries.
