Music] Eurovision tested by polarization

Terrain of geopolitical stakes, two weeks away from its 70th edition, the Eurovision is facing an unprecedented crisis. In the spotlight, Israel and its broadcaster, leading to a wave of boycotts and criticism. But where will it all end?

It was created to bring people together, but on the eve of its 70th anniversary, the Eurovision Song Contest, a musical gathering without borders, is facing one of its most serious crises and a call for boycott from over 1,000 artists. While 43 countries participated in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2018, only 35 will compete in Vienna, Austria, on May 16, eight years later. This reduced participation is explained by a chain reaction over several years.

Hungary under Viktor Orban pulled out in 2020, displeased with the contest’s progressive nature, followed by Belarus being suspended for propaganda and Russia being excluded after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lack of financial means led to other countries’ withdrawals, like North Macedonia. The coordinated boycott of five broadcasters is heavily impacting the 2026 edition. Disagreeing with Israel’s participation, Spain announced in early December that it would not air the event.

A “Big Five,” as the five major paying countries in the Eurovision are called, benefit from automatic access to the final. Following suit, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland have also decided to boycott the program. Christina Oberg, an analyst of Eurovision geopolitics, notes that sanctioning Russia has set a precedent and fueled a major debate.

Some wonder why the same action was not taken against Israel. Last week, over a thousand musicians worldwide, including renowned artists like Massive Attack, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, and Sigur Ros, called for the exclusion of the Israeli public broadcaster KAN for being complicit in crimes against humanity committed by Israel.

They blame Israel for its conduct in the war with Gaza, retaliating against the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer, had previously defended Israeli KAN by saying it met all independence criteria. But due to last year’s accusations of vote manipulation in favor of the Israeli candidate, the public voting rules were modified.

If more countries withdraw, it will be a slow death, as a minimum number of participants is needed for the contest to retain its meaning for everyone. The host country Austria condemned any cultural boycott as “stupid and futile,” forgetting that it was the first to boycott in 1969 in Madrid due to Franco’s dictatorship.

The Eurovision is not just a singing contest; it is a major influencing tool to convey values, according to analysts. With 166 million claimed viewers in 2025, the financial stakes are high, turning it into a brand to protect.

Dealing with sponsors, creating derivative products, organizing in larger halls, and selling tickets to the public all contributed to avoiding damage to the contest’s reputation, noted Dean Vuletic. This year adds a new source of tension, as all eyes will be on Denmark due to its situation with Greenland and Donald Trump, causing concern and resistance within the European Union.

The American president’s claims on Greenland, a territory under Danish sovereignty, have raised concerns and resistance within the EU. Experts predicted a wave of empathy for the Danish candidate amid this situation.

[Context: The Eurovision Song Contest is facing a crisis due to boycotts and criticism against Israel’s participation, leading to a reduced number of participating countries and tensions within the competition.] [Fact Check: The article mentions specific countries and incidents related to the Eurovision Song Contest, such as Russia’s exclusion for the invasion of Ukraine and the controversy surrounding Israel’s participation.]