35 countries set for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna as five boycott over Israel's participation

GENEVA — The European Broadcasting Union on Monday announced a final list of 35 countries that will take part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will be staged in Vienna in May, after five nations said they would boycott over Israel’s participation. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain are not taking part in the glitzy pop-music gala this year.

Last year’s contest drew 37 participating countries, and Austria’s JJ won the title. This week, Switzerland’s Nemo, the 2024 winner, announced plans to return the winner’s trophy because Israel is being allowed to compete. Israeli officials welcomed the decision, arguing it protects artistic freedom, while protests over the Gaza war and allegations that votes were manipulated around the event persisted.

Organizers also noted that Israel’s continued participation had become a focal point of political debate. The European Broadcasting Union said reforms introduced to address concerns about vote-rigging and political influence were not enough to satisfy the holdouts, and several member broadcasters signaled that political considerations should not influence performers. The move to maintain Israel’s participation drew praise from Israeli officials who warned that excluding performers on political grounds would threaten free expression.

Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania will return to the contest in 2026 after skipping for artistic or financial reasons in recent years, a development that broadens the field ahead of the event’s 70th anniversary. The returns come as organizers face questions about how to balance artistic aims with political sensitivities that have dominated coverage and protests around the competition in recent years.

The Eurovision Song Contest, organized by the European Broadcasting Union, remains a centerpiece of European pop culture, drawing more than 100 million viewers annually. Yet it has been roiled by the war in Gaza and related protests, with demonstrations outside venues and heightened security measures in response to political flag-waving and other forms of expression. The tension underscores the broader challenges facing public broadcasters amid funding pressures and changing audience habits in the digital era.

For fans and participants, the 2026 edition in Vienna will mark a milestone as the event navigates a complex intersection of music, diplomacy and public discourse. The final lineup confirms a return to a sizable, diverse field, even as voices inside and outside the broadcast community call for clearer lines between political issues and a competition built on art and performance. While organizers emphasize the show’s enduring appeal, the current crisis stands as one of the most consequential tests in Eurovision’s seven-decade history.