In Geneva on December 4th 2025 a vote was held between delegations from EBU member broadcasters. This vote was about the new measures and voting overhaul for the Eurovision Song Contest, changes that had already been approved by the EBU Reference Group. EBU President Delphine Ernotte Cunci thanked member broadcasters for “their thoughtful, respectful and constructive contributions” during the debate both prior to and at the meeting in Geneva.
The proposal from the EBU was that, should this vote pass, there would be no separate vote on Israeli participation. That is despite the request from the Spanish delegation for a separate vote on that issue regardless of the impact on this vote, a decision which public broadcaster RTVE said increases their “distrust of the festival’s organisation”. The vote showed a clear majority of votes in favour of these new rules. 738 votes were in favour for the EBU proposal, with 264 against and 120 abstentions.
Four Countries Are Withdrawing
The Spanish broadcaster is now one of the broadcasters who has confirmed their plans for boycotting the 70th edition in Vienna. RTVE Secretary General Alfonso Morales stated that for RTVE these changes are considered “insufficient”, noting both the “situation in Gaza” and “Israel’s use of the Contest for political purposes”.
The Spanish broadcaster will be joined by Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS in not taking part in Vienna. AVROTROS reasoned that “participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation”.
Beyond the reasoning the Spanish broadcaster has outlined, AVROTROS’ statement on withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 also notes how “seriously compromised” the freedom of press has been in Israel recently, and that standing up for these values are “non-negotiable”.
This stance has been supported by Irish broadcaster RTÉ, stating that “participation remains unconscionable” given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and “continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory.” This is backed by Natalija Gorscak, chairperson for Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO, stating that the Contest “must follow European standards for peace and understanding” and that their withdrawal is “on behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza”.
Where We Go From Here
The four broadcasters that are withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest are the four broadcasters who had been most outspoken about this issue in the run up to the EBU’s General Assembly. Time will tell if other broadcasters are set to join their boycott.
There has been discussion after the meeting about the possibility of Belgium joining the non-participating nations, after broadcaster VRT made a statement stating “regret that the EBU is not doing more to restore the unifying nature of the Song Contest“.
However, next year sees Belgian broadcaster RTBF responsible for co-ordinating their Eurovision participation, and they have confirmed that Belgium will take part in Vienna; this is based on a deal reached between the EBU and both Belgian broadcasters, which will see the EBU create a taskforce to push for improved access for independent media into Gaza.
Icelandic broadcaster RÚV is also set to meet on Wednesday December 10th, to discuss their participation at the Song Contest. We are aware that the broadcaster was supportive of Israeli exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest, but they will now discuss whether Iceland is set to take part, given the decision from Geneva.
We now anticipate that all other member broadcasters will apply to be a part of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
Finnish broadcaster Yle believes that, following the outcome of the meeting in Geneva, their “conditions are being met” on attending the Contest, and that they (along with broadcasters from Norway, Sweden and Denmark) voted in favour of the EBU’s proposals. These nations, and their joint platform, depend on there being a “sufficiently large” number of participants so that the Song Contest remains economically viable. That would require numerous other withdrawals from the Contest, as we must remember that Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania return for the 2026 edition.
Broadcasters now have time to consider if they wish to be a part of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and confirm their participation to the EBU. Song Contest Director Martin Green, speaking to Swedish broadcaster SVT, believes the number of boycotting broadcasters may be “about five”, resulting in a total of “about 35 broadcasters participating” for the 70th edition, with Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova returning. The EBU expects to release the list of participating broadcasters before Christmas.
A Monumental Day Of Song Contest History
We never got to the point of having a direct vote on the issue of Israeli participation. Instead, the vote on the new proposed, and already approved, rules for the Eurovision Song Contest was the proxy for this. Nevertheless, the Contest has never had such a vote before, with such clear ramifications. The unsavoury split in opinion is unprecedented.
Despite the EBU’s efforts, its months-long process of dialogue, discussion, and the drafting of new regulations wasn’t sufficient to keep everybody on board. The broadcasters who are now boycotting the seventieth edition of the Song Contest are doing so not just because of opposition to Israel’s use of military force on Gaza, but also due to issues such as compromised press freedom and Israel’s use of the Song Contest for political purposes. We may have new Contest rules, but they could not solve all these issues and ensure nations like Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, or Ireland remain participating.
Once before in Eurovision history has there been a mass boycott of nations. That took place in 1970, when history tells us that Finland, Sweden, Norway and Portugal boycotted the competition in part because of the four-way tie for first in 1969 and the Song Contest’s lack of tie-breaker rules. That left just twelve nations in Amsterdam, the lowest number since 1959.
This boycott of the 2026 edition may have been on the back of a vote on Song Contest rules, but it ultimately was about participation. Spain, Slovenia, Ireland and the Netherlands are withdrawing due to Israel’s presence at Eurovision, the actions of the state, the freedom of press, and the instrumentalisation of the Contest by the Israeli government’s campaigning last year.
If we end up with 35 countries in Vienna as Martin Green predicts, the Song Contest survives despite the lowest participant number since Semi Finals began in 2004.
Our Message To Everyone
The issue of Israeli participation has dominated the Eurovision Song Contest headlines for the past two editions. Yes, the vote at the General Assembly brings closure to the protracted discussions over whether Israel will participate, but it does not mean the issues raised suddenly disappear.
Concerns remain about whether the new Eurovision rules and regulations will limit the Contest’s instrumentalisation sufficiently throughout this coming season. Concerns remain about the press freedom of journalists trying to report from Israel, or to gain access to Gaza to report there. Concerns, of course, remain about Israeli attacks on Gaza, and the humanitarian crisis the military action has caused.
We know we are losing four broadcasters for the next edition in Vienna. Not just any broadcasters, those boycotting have been some of the Contest’s most loyal, with 14 wins between them from 211 participations. We will find out soon enough if we lose any more.
We also know that the Eurovision Song Contest will lose some of its most loyal supporters. We are already aware that from our Eurovision community that sites like Éirevision and Phoenix ESC plan to step back from their involvement in the Contest based on this outcome. The Barcelona Preview Party announced that their show will not be held in 2026, followed shortly after by the same news from the team in Madrid. Producing content on the Song Contest with the dedication they and many others do is a labour of love. If the love isn’t there right now, it is definitely right to step away.
In a moment like this, it is understandable that loving the Song Contest feels complicated. The headlines and divisions of the past months have been heavy, and the decisions taken in Geneva will sit differently with every member of this community. Yet the joy of the Song Contest has never been dictated by who appears on any participation list.
Those who follow this world know that the Contest is far more than one week in May, more than its final scoreboard, and more than the soft power that inevitably is dragged along with it. We are entering our most exciting cycle of the year as the National Final season begins to take shape, with new songs arriving from country after country while we move through the depths of winter.
This is the moment to discover new music, new artists, and new cultures. That discovery is the lifeblood of following the Song Contest. Nothing defines Eurovision more clearly than its songs. And that is a story that all of us own and control, irrespective of any decisions made by higher powers.
The heart of the Contest has always been the music itself. As I write this I have had Getter Jaani’s freshly released entry for Eesti Laul on loop, once again in love with a Sven Lõhmus melody. It is a reminder that despite everything else, we ultimately find joy in the Song Contest for the music and its songs. We control that, and nothing can take that away from us.
If it pains you to follow the Song Contest today, we understand. But the music remains, ready to be heard whenever you are ready.