Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and the Netherlands have announced they will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. The boycott follows a decision by the event's organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), not to hold a vote on Israel's participation despite calls for its exclusion over the war in Gaza.

At a general assembly on Thursday, EBU members voted instead to introduce new rules aimed at preventing governments and third parties from improperly promoting songs to influence voters. The EBU stated that a "large majority" agreed no further vote on participation was needed and that the 2026 contest should proceed as planned with the new safeguards.

In response, broadcasters from the four countries confirmed their withdrawal.

Ireland's RTÉ stated that participation was "unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis." It will neither compete nor broadcast the event.

Spain's RTVE also pledged to boycott, criticizing the EBU's decision-making process as "insufficient" and expressing "distrust." Spain's Culture Minister, Ernest Urtasun, backed the move, saying, "You can’t whitewash Israel given the genocide in Gaza."

The Netherlands' Avrotros said participation "cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation." Slovenia's RTVSLO stated that taking part "would conflict with its values of peace, equality and respect."

Other broadcasters, including the BBC and Germany's SWR, indicated they would participate and broadcast the contest. The BBC said it supported the "collective decision" made by EBU members, describing it as "about enforcing the rules... and being inclusive."

The new rules on vote influence were seen as an attempt to address concerns raised after Israel topped the public vote in the 2024 contest. Sixty-five percent of EBU delegates voted for the rule changes and against further discussion on Israel's participation.

Broadcasters from Nordic countries—Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland—supported the EBU's decision but emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue to safeguard the contest's credibility.

Israel's President, Isaac Herzog, welcomed the outcome, stating Israel "deserves to be represented on every stage around the world."

The 2026 contest will be held in Vienna, Austria. Russia remains banned from the competition following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.