In 2018, 43 countries participated in Eurovision, the grand European song contest won by the Swiss Nemo in 2024. On May 16 in Vienna, there will be only 35 countries competing to win. This reduced number is due to a domino effect over several years.
Hungary, under Viktor Orban, withdrew in 2020 from a contest deemed too progressive, followed by Belarus being suspended for propaganda, and Russia being excluded after the invasion of Ukraine. Some countries left due to financial reasons, like North Macedonia, while a coordinated boycott by five broadcasters weighs heavily on the 2026 edition. Spain announced that it would not broadcast the event due to disagreements with Israel’s participation, despite being one of the “Big Five” countries with automatic access to the final. Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland also decided to boycott the program.
The sanctions against Russia set a precedent and “fuel a major debate today,” according to Christina Öberg, who has researched Eurovision’s unintentional role as a geopolitical battleground. Some question why the same action has not been taken against Israel.
More than a thousand musicians worldwide, including renowned artists like Massive Attack, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, and Sigur Ros, have called for the exclusion of the Israeli public broadcaster KAN, accusing it of complicity in Israel’s actions during the war in Gaza in response to an attack by Hamas in October 2023.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer, previously defended KAN, stating it met all independence criteria. However, after allegations of voter manipulation in favor of the Israeli candidate last year, the EBU changed the public voting rules. Christina Öberg, a professor at Linné University in Sweden, believes that if more countries withdraw, it will be a slow death for the contest, as a certain number of participants are needed for the competition to remain meaningful.
Austria, hosting this year, called any cultural boycott “stupid and futile.” However, historian Dean Vuletic noted that Austria was the first to boycott the event in 1969 in Madrid due to Franco’s dictatorship.
Eurovision has always been a major tool for influencing values and promoting social change, as noted by analysts. The event, with its live broadcasts and extensive viewership, has become a powerful platform amplified by social media. With 166 million viewers in 2025, the financial stakes are high, requiring protection of its brand.
This year, all eyes will be on Denmark due to tensions with Greenland and Donald Trump. The US President’s claims on the Arctic territory under Danish sovereignty have caused concern and resistance within the European Union. Experts predict a wave of empathy towards the Danish candidate in the betting odds.
