Which countries are boycotting Euro vision and why

Here’s a summary of which countries are boycotting Eurovision Song Contest now — and why.

🚫 Who is boycotting (or pulling out)

As of December 2025, the following countries have publicly announced they will not participate in Eurovision 2026:

Sometimes other countries or broadcasters (like Iceland) have expressed uncertainty or threatened a boycott — but as of now they have not made a definitive withdrawal. Al Jazeera+2Dawn Images+2

🧑‍⚖️ Why they are boycotting

The boycott stems primarily from the decision to allow Israel to participate despite the ongoing war in Gaza and widespread criticism of Israel’s conduct there. The key concerns cited by withdrawing broadcasters:

Humanitarian crisis: Broadcasters in Ireland and others said they could not take part given the “appalling loss of lives in Gaza” and ongoing civilian suffering. Al Jazeera+2Al Jazeera+2
Violation of values: For some — notably the Dutch broadcaster — taking part alongside Israel was seen as incompatible with their public-service values, especially around press freedom and independent journalism. euronews+2Al Jazeera+2
Politicization of the contest: Some broadcasters argued that under current circumstances, participation would compromise the neutrality of Eurovision, which is supposed to emphasize music and culture rather than geopolitics. The Guardian+2Al Jazeera+2
Lack of confidence in reforms: After the governing body (European Broadcasting Union, EBU) decided not to hold a vote on Israel’s participation — but only to adopt certain voting-system reforms — the boycotting countries said those changes were insufficient to ensure fairness or restore trust. The Guardian+2euronews+2

⚠️ Context: The struggle between music and geopolitics

What’s unfolding represents the biggest boycott in Eurovision history. The contest — traditionally presented as a non-political music celebration — is now deeply entangled with international politics. Some major long-time participants and high-contributing countries like Spain are pulling out. The Guardian+2euronews+2

At the same time, not all countries agree: several broadcasters, including from other large contributors, have declared they will stay in Eurovision 2026 despite boycott pressures. euronews+2euronews+2