Several countries have announced their withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest following the confirmation of Israel's participation in the 2026 event. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, Spain's RTVE, and Ireland's RTE have all declared they will not take part in or broadcast the contest, which is set to take place in Vienna on May 16, 2026. Reports indicate that Slovenia's broadcaster has also opted out. In a statement, RTE expressed that Ireland’s involvement would be “unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza.” The broadcaster reiterated its stance after the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) winter general assembly in Geneva, where Israel's participation was confirmed. RTE stated, "RTE feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk." The broadcaster also voiced concerns regarding the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza and the restricted access for international journalists. Spain's RTVE followed suit, announcing its withdrawal after the EBU's voting session, which resulted in Israel remaining in the competition. The RTVE Board of Directors had previously agreed that Spain would withdraw if Israel participated. The EBU conducted a secret ballot regarding new rules introduced last month, but did not hold a specific vote on Israel's participation. The EBU stated that members had shown "clear support for reforms to reinforce trust and protect neutrality." This decision comes after Israeli singer Yuval Raphael received the highest number of public votes in the recent contest, ultimately finishing as runner-up after jury votes were counted. Following this, RTE requested a breakdown of the voting numbers from the EBU, while RTVE called for a “complete review” of the voting system to prevent “external interference.” In response to concerns raised by various broadcasters, the EBU has announced changes to the voting process. The maximum number of votes allowed per payment method has been reduced from 20 to 10, as outlined by Martin Green, the director of the song contest. As the situation develops, the future of the Eurovision Song Contest remains uncertain, with significant implications for its international participation and reputation.