Bye bye Eurovision: These are the countries that refused to go to the festival in 2026 due to the boycott of Israel

The countdown to the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest has begun — but this year’s celebration arrives under a cloud unlike anything the event has seen before.

Vienna will host the competition from May 12 to May 16, 2026, marking a milestone anniversary overshadowed by a political rift triggered by several countries withdrawing in protest over Israel’s participation.

The Austrian capital is preparing once again to become Europe’s musical epicenter. Thousands of fans are already planning their trip to the Wiener Stadthalle, where the grand final will take place on Saturday, May 16. What should have been a festive, nostalgia‑filled edition has instead been defined by controversy and division.

A political storm reshapes the contest

The uproar began months ago, when multiple European broadcasters urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to reconsider Israel’s participation due to the ongoing conflict with Palestine. The EBU rejected the request, insisting that Eurovision “is a contest between broadcasters, not governments.”

That decision sparked a major internal rupture. Five long‑standing participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia — announced they would withdraw from Eurovision 2026.

Spain’s exit marks a historic break

Spain’s withdrawal is one of the most symbolic blows to the contest. As a member of the Big Five — the group of countries that contribute the most financially and automatically qualify for the final — Spain has been a Eurovision fixture for decades.

But Spanish public broadcaster RTVE declared it would neither participate in nor air any of the 2026 shows, arguing that Israel’s continued presence makes it impossible to maintain the cultural neutrality Eurovision has traditionally promoted.

Eurovision 2026 moves forward with 35 countries

Despite the departures, the show will go on. A total of 35 countries will compete in Vienna. France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom will remain in the Big Five, while Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania return after several years away.

The confirmed participants for the 70th edition are:

When is the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest and how can I vote?

The grand final of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest gets underway on Saturday 16 May at 21:00 hours CEST (3.p.m. ET / 12 noon PT).

Viewers in countries that are not participating in the event can still vote for their favorite acts.

During the Grand Final, the voting window will open online at midnight local time ( 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT) before the show, and will remain open until the Live Shows begin. Voting will resume just before the first song is performed. It will then remain open until around 40 minutes after the last competing song has been presented. If your country isn’t competing in Vienna you can vote for your favorite at www.esc.vote.

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