this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2025
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Europe

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Dutch broadcast company AVROTROS has announced that the Netherlands will boycott the 2026 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to compete. The Netherlands is the fifth country to announce a planned boycott of the event, which is scheduled to be held in Vienna.

“AVROTROS can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza,” the company said in a statement. The organization manages Dutch participation and broadcast rights for the competition as part of the Dutch public broadcasting umbrella, NPO.

AVROTROS stated that they have been in discussions with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) regarding Israel’s participation in 2026. The broadcaster added that they are also concerned about the “serious erosion of press freedom,” citing the interference by the Israeli government in last year’s edition, claiming that the event was used as a “political instrument.”

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[–] Aria@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 20 hours ago

Last year would've been a better time for this threat, but I guess this is better than nothing.

[–] herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml 8 points 22 hours ago

I hope more countries do this. Israel should not be invited to anywhere.

[–] MrSulu@lemmy.ml 5 points 22 hours ago

Let's hope that we have a domino effect with other countries boycotting too. Sometimes the wider public just need to have this drawn to their attention.

[–] pedz@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 day ago (2 children)

And yet Germany and Italy are threatening to boycott if Israel is not included.

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 18 points 1 day ago

Birds of a feather flock together.

[–] Tenderizer78@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 day ago

That's a bold stance of them, in this climate.

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 20 points 1 day ago

The dam has broken.

[–] ordnance_qf_17_pounder@reddthat.com 18 points 1 day ago (4 children)

Israel (and Australia) not being in Europe was already irritating enough.

[–] DJDarren@sopuli.xyz 4 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

The Australia thing is because the competition is huge over there, so as a 50th anniversary special the EBC let them take part. And it just kinda stuck.

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 21 hours ago

Part of this is that we've been an associate member of the EBU since 1950 with our ABC and 1979 for the SBS, the current participant broadcaster. I really don't see a good reason for it not to expand outside of Europe.

Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia and Morocco are all active members of the EBU and so could decide to compete without needing to be invited.

The list of associate members that could be invited by the EBU is even longer; Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, South Korea and Syria. You could make it a real global affair, and a place for peace. Especially if you didn't give countries currently engaged in war a platform.

[–] pupbiru@aussie.zone 4 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

well that’s just a misunderstanding about what the completion is… australia, yeah i agree that’s a bit out of the blue but im glad we’re part of it… however, the point is “EBC members + a few” and israel is part of the EBC

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 1 points 23 hours ago

I'm going to boycott until every European country is represented.

I want to see a couple of Vatican cardinals backed by a Swiss guard dance troupe.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago

Ah I like the Aussies in it. Their act is always fun.

[–] queermunist@lemmy.ml 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

The fact that Israel, a supposedly Asian country, is in all these European cultural associations really gives the game away.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Them being the primary sponsor for Eurovision also doesnt help

[–] davepleasebehave@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago

Moroccan oil. bizarrely, an Israeli company.

[–] folaht@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Finally, justice for Joost Kleine.

[–] abbadon420@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Dicks out for Joost

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 day ago

my inner pessimist is expecting a change of heart at the 11th hour given how some of these gov't had made recognition of palestine conditional on circumstamces that will never come to pass.

[–] zarathustra0@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I will boycott it too, like I do every year.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

Crimes against music.

[–] Dojan@pawb.social 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Honestly, one should boycott Eurovision anyway. I don’t have the time or patience for empire.

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 23 hours ago

I'm interested in what you mean by this.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

We're up to Spain, Ireland and The Netherlands now. Gonna be interesting.

[–] madjo@feddit.nl 5 points 23 hours ago

Don't forget Iceland and Slovenia

[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago

All this disdain for genocide is so antisemitic.

[–] Anarki_@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 day ago