"United by Music"? “A Eurovision without Israel would mean defending the ideals that this event proclaims,” a statement by the protest organizers said.
This year's Eurovision backlash continues.
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Protesters gathered outside the Serbian state RTS broadcaster yesterday to demand that the Balkan country pull out of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of Israel’s participation.
The protesters in central Belgrade waved Palestinian flags and accused Israel of genocide. They called on RTS not to broadcast the contest and for Serbians to boycott the event by not watching it – despite being represented by the rather excellent metal band Lavina.
“A Eurovision without Israel would mean defending the ideals that this event proclaims,” a statement by the protest organizers said.
Eurovision's organizers decided in December to allow Israel to compete, which prompted the walkout of Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland and Ireland.
Spain’s RTVE will not air Eurovision – a first since 1961; Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ announced last December it would neither broadcast nor participate in the event; and Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV Slovenia confirmed last week that it won’t air this year’s the contest – choosing instead to show a series of films about Palestine.
“We will not be broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest,” Ksenija Horvat, RTV Slovenia director told AP. “We will be airing the film series ‘Voices of Palestine,’ featuring Palestinian documentaries and feature films.”
The Netherlands and Iceland will show Eurovision on their respective national broadcasters, NPO and RÚV.
This year’s competition, Eurovision’s 70th anniversary, will have 35 competing countries and is scheduled to take place in Vienna from 12-16 May. Despite their slogan “United by Music”, this year’s Eurovision is without a doubt the most controversial edition yet. The event has been accused of hypocrisy for allowing Israel to take part, as Russia has been barred from Eurovision since 2022, after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Thousands of artists including Massive Attack, Kneecap, Mogwai, Brian Eno, Sigur Rós and Nadine Shah recently signed an open letter calling for fans to boycott the event.
“As musicians and cultural workers, many living within the reaches of the [EBU], we reject Eurovision being used to whitewash and normalise Israel’s genocide, siege and brutal military occupation against Palestinians,” the letter, organised by No Music for Genocide and the BDS movement, said.
“We stand in solidarity with Palestinian calls for public broadcasters, performers, screening party organisers, crew, and fans to boycott Eurovision until the EBU bans complicit Israeli broadcaster KAN.”
Israel has consistently denied that it is committing genocide in Gaza. However, in September 2025, a UN inquiry concluded that Israel is committing genocide.
Eurovision is the world’s biggest music event, attracting 166 million viewers last year. This year’s 70th edition is set to take place in Vienna, Austria. The final will be on 16 May 2026.
