DayofPal—Over 1,100 musicians and cultural figures from around the world have signed an open letter calling for a boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, protesting Israel’s participation.
The letter, published by the “No Music for Genocide” campaign, accuses Israel’s public broadcaster KAN of complicity in “crimes against humanity” and urges artists, broadcasters, crew, and fans to withdraw support until Israel is excluded from the event.
Prominent signatories include Massive Attack, Kneecap, Brian Eno, Paul Weller, IDLES, Paloma Faith, Sigur Rós, Macklemore, Roger Waters, and Peter Gabriel, along with several former Eurovision participants.
Israel will be represented by 27-year-old French-Israeli singer Noam Bettan (also spelled Betan), who was selected through the national competition HaKokhav HaBa.
He will perform the multilingual song “Michelle,” featuring elements in Hebrew, French, English, and other languages.
The contest, marking its 70th edition, is scheduled for Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle with semi-finals on May 12 and 14, and the grand final on May 16, 2026.
Several countries have withdrawn from the competition in protest against Israel’s involvement and the ongoing war in Gaza.
Public broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Slovenia have announced their withdrawal.
Critics argue that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) applies double standards by allowing Israel to compete while banning Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Slovenia’s public broadcaster, RTV Slovenija, has gone further by refusing to air the contest at all.
Instead, it will broadcast a special programming block titled “Voices of Palestine” (Glasovi Palestine) from May 10 to 20.
The schedule includes films, documentaries, and analytical programs highlighting the humanitarian and political situation in Palestine, with the aim of raising awareness about the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Campaigns have also emerged, with over 1,000 entertainment industry figures, including actors like Helen Mirren, Amy Schumer, and Mayim Bialik, and musicians such as Gene Simmons and Boy George, signing letters in support of Israel’s right to participate, emphasizing that music should unite people rather than divide them along political lines.
The Eurovision Song Contest has faced significant backlash in recent years over political issues, but organizers have maintained that the event remains open to participating broadcasters under EBU rules.
As the contest approaches, the boycott calls and withdrawals mark what many describe as the largest wave of protest in the competition’s history.
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