Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovakia have all withdrawn from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) declined to hold a vote on Israel’s participation in the competition during its general assembly meeting today (Thursday, December 4). The Eurovision organizer had postponed an earlier planned vote after Israel and the Palestinian political group Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement in October.

A statement from the EBU reads, in part, “A large majority of Members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place.” Participating broadcasters only voted to adopt rules that would prevent governments and third parties from

See Full Page