Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands have boycotted Eurovision 2026 over Israel's involvement, according to multiple reports. More than 1,100 artists, including Brian Eno, Massive Attack, Paloma Faith, and Paul Weller, signed an open letter organized by No Music for Genocide and the BDS movement, calling on fans and performers to boycott unless the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) bans Israel's public broadcaster KAN. The letter states that Eurovision should not be used to whitewash Israel's actions in Gaza.
Security concerns are escalating as Vienna Police have called Eurovision one of the biggest security events they have faced. Senior police officer Xenia Zauner said at a press conference that they expect blockades and disruptive actions, particularly on the day of the final, whether through authorized or unauthorized gatherings. A handful of demonstrations have been registered, with attendance estimated up to 3,000 people.
9 miles of sites including the Wiener Stadthalle stadium. The boycott is fueled by allegations of genocide against Israel. A UN inquiry concluded in September 2025 that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, according to the inquiry's findings.
Israel denies this, framing its attacks as self-defense after the October 7, 2023 attacks. In March, Israel's parliament passed a law approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis. Additional boycott actions include Swedish artist Marit Bergman expressing disappointment that Sweden has not followed the boycott example.
According to a wire report, Bergman said it should be a "no brainer" to exclude Israel under the current circumstances, and she is disappointed in her country. The 2024 winner Nemo protested by returning their trophy to the EBU. Eurovision 2026 will be held in Vienna, Austria, with the Grand Final at Wiener Stadthalle on May 16.
An estimated 200,000 people are expected to visit Vienna, and 95,000 tickets have been sold for the live shows. The EBU has introduced new voting rules to reduce audience influence after last year's voting debate. S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation is setting up a task force in New York for cyber threat coordination. It remains unclear how Austrian authorities will handle potential large-scale protests on Nakba Day, which coincides with the final weekend. No additional countries or artists have announced a boycott yet, but further announcements may come before the contest.