Boycott of Israel at Eurovision suffers fiasco

Several countries that previously boycotted Eurovision due to Israel's participation are considering returning to the competition. The Netherlands (AVROTROS) has already decided to return in 2027, Iceland and Slovenia are also showing signs of abandoning the boycott. The anti-Israel campaign risks shrinking to just two countries — Ireland and Spain. The EBU has changed the voting and competition rules, but Israel has retained its place.

The boycott of Israel at Eurovision, which threatened to escalate into a large-scale campaign, is beginning to lose support. Several countries that withdrew from the 2026 contest because of Israel are considering a return. The most notable reversal is happening in the Netherlands: broadcaster AVROTROS has already decided to return in 2027, with an official announcement expected in the coming weeks. Even if AVROTROS maintains the boycott, the country has allowed for the transfer of authority to another broadcaster. Signs of abandoning the previous position have appeared in Iceland, which was one of the active opponents of Israel's participation. A possible return is being discussed in Slovenia following political changes. Thus, the anti-Israel boycott risks shrinking to just two countries — Ireland and Spain. Meanwhile, Spain (RTVE) still maintains its decision not to participate but is listed among the 'Big Five' in EBU materials. In parallel, the European Broadcasting Union has changed the rules: professional juries have been reinstated in the semi-finals, the maximum number of votes per viewer has been reduced from 20 to 10, and restrictions on external influence campaigns have been tightened. A country's victory no longer guarantees the automatic right to host the next Eurovision — in the event of war or serious security risks, the contest may be moved. The key decision for Israel remains unchanged: the country has retained its place.