Five countries withdraw over Israel dispute

Bulgaria’s Dara won Eurovision 2026 in Vienna on Saturday, but the result came after five broadcasters withdrew from the contest over Israel’s participation. Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland all pulled out after the European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, decided in December not to hold a further vote on whether Israel could compete. NBC News reported on May 16 that the withdrawals shadowed this year’s contest and that Israel’s Noam Bettan placed second with 343 points. The dispute turned a song competition marking its 70th anniversary into another test of how the EBU handles the Gaza war’s political fallout. ### Which five countries actually withdrew? RTÉ said on Dec. 5 that Ireland would not participate in Eurovision 2026 and would not broadcast it after the EBU confirmed Israel’s participation. The Irish broadcaster said its position remained that taking part was “unconscionable” given the loss of life in Gaza and concerns about journalists being killed there. (nbcnews.com) RTVE said Spain would not take part after the EBU’s Dec. 4 decision, making it one of the most consequential withdrawals because Spain is part of Eurovision’s “Big Five” financial contributors that usually qualify automatically for the final. RTVE’s explainer said the Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland had also announced withdrawals after Israel was cleared to compete. (rte.ie) RÚV said on Dec. 10 that Iceland would also stay out, bringing the number of withdrawals to five. The Icelandic broadcaster said public debate and the reaction to the EBU decision meant there would be neither “joy nor peace” around its participation. ### What decision did the EBU make in December? (rtve.es) The EBU said on Dec. 4 that members meeting at a General Assembly in Geneva backed rule changes meant to reinforce trust, transparency and neutrality, and that there was “no need for a further vote on participation.” That decision meant any member broadcaster willing to follow the revised rules remained eligible for Eurovision 2026, including Israel’s Kan. (ruv.is) Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, had said on Nov. 21 that the EBU was tightening promotion rules, halving the voting cap and adding safeguards against coordinated or fraudulent voting. The EBU said those changes followed consultations after the 2025 contest and were intended to curb disproportionate promotion, including by governments or government agencies. (ebu.ch) ### Why was Israel’s participation at the center of the row? NBC News reported that the five countries cited the war in Gaza and attempts by the Israeli government to encourage mass voting for its entry. RTÉ referred to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while Slovenian officials said they had called for Israel’s exclusion over the war and allegations of unfair voting practices. (ebu.ch) RTVE said the debate inside the EBU centered on whether Israel should be allowed to remain in the contest, noting that the union had previously excluded Belarus in 2021 and Russia in 2022. Israel, backed by some other members including Germany, opposed exclusion, according to RTVE’s account. (nbcnews.com) ### How did the contest itself unfold in Vienna? NBC News reported that 25 countries competed in the May 16 grand final at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle. Dara’s victory gave Bulgaria its first Eurovision win and means the country is set to host next year’s contest, according to NBC’s report. (rtve.es) Israel’s Noam Bettan finished second with 343 points, NBC said. The same report said boos were heard in the arena when Israel’s public vote total briefly pushed the country to the top of the rankings. ### Did the withdrawals change the shape of the event? Hello! magazine reported before the semifinals that Eurovision 2026 was heading into the week with its lowest participant count since 2003 because some countries withdrew or declined to air the show over Israel’s participation. (nbcnews.com) That report aligns with the five confirmed withdrawals from Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland. The EBU had said on Dec. 4 that the full list of participants for the 70th-anniversary edition would be announced before Christmas. By the time the contest opened in Vienna on May 12 and concluded on May 16, the withdrawals had already been absorbed into the final lineup. ### What comes next after this year’s contest? (hellomagazine.com) NBC News reported that Bulgaria’s win means it will host Eurovision in 2027. The EBU and the winning broadcaster typically set the next host city and dates after the contest year ends, and the precedent this season was Vienna, where Austria’s ORF staged semifinals on May 12 and May 14 and the final on May 16. (nbcnews.com) (ebu.ch)