OREANDA-NEWS   Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia decided not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest after the decision of the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to admit Israel. The boycott is reported by France24.

Eurovision 2026 will be held without the participation of these countries, which previously opposed Israel's admission to the contest due to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. The broadcasters of these countries also refused to broadcast the contest.

31 countries have confirmed their participation in Eurovision. At the same time, the broadcasters of Iceland and Belgium have not yet decided on this issue, and the countries that have already confirmed their participation may withdraw their decision.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Israel's possible exclusion from Eurovision a scandal. According to him, in such a development, he would "support" the voluntary refusal of Germany to participate in the competition.