Eurovision on the Edge: A Crisis of Participation

Sat Dec 06 2025 19:22:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the Eurovision Song Contest faces its most significant crisis in history, four countries have announced their withdrawal over Israel's contentious participation, raising questions about the future of the event and the unity of its members.

The Eurovision Song Contest is experiencing unprecedented turmoil as four countries, including past winners Ireland and the Netherlands, withdraw in protest of Israel's continued participation amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. This boycott has prompted intense discussions about future rule changes and the contest's financial viability, leading to an uncertain future for the iconic music event.

Thursday marked the biggest crisis in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Four countries pulled out over Israel's continued participation in the competition, and more may follow.

The boycott includes Ireland, which has won seven times - a tally matched only by Sweden - and five-time winner the Netherlands. Spain, one of the contest's biggest financial backers, and Slovenia, are also out.

The row exposes a deep rift within the Eurovision family. And it’s a situation that’s been looming for years, amid festering tension over Israel's conduct during the war in Gaza.

There has also been consternation over the voting and campaigning processes after Israel came top of the public vote this year - finishing second overall after the jury votes were taken into account.

Israel, meanwhile, called the decision to keep it in the contest a victory over critics who had tried to silence it and spread hatred.

Thursday's summit with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) brought the divisions within the Eurovision family to the fore. There was no direct vote on Israel's place in Eurovision, but the country's future participation was effectively tied to a ballot among broadcasters about proposed new rules for campaigning and public voting.

Sixty-five percent of members of the EBU voted in favor of that change. Ten percent abstained.

Roland Weissmann, director general of ORF, the public broadcaster in Austria, next year's host country, said there were heated discussions, but that it was a fair process.

Spain, which expressed its dissatisfaction with the organizers' handling of the situation, indicated that the crisis was avoidable. This point should never have been reached, said the president of broadcaster RTVE, Jose Pablo Lopez. He criticized the EBU for yielding to political and commercial interests.

As the landscape continues to shift, other countries are weighing their options to follow suit in a potential boycott, creating a ripple effect that could redefine the Eurovision Song Contest's future.

Despite the turmoil, Eurovision director Martin Green noted that the competition may still have 35 nations participating next year, suggesting a complex but not entirely diminished outlook for the beloved event.

The long-term implications of this crisis may threaten not only the unity of Eurovision but the integrity of its mission to unite nations through music amidst growing global tensions.