When Israel left Eurovision (but didn’t)

A supposed withdrawal, after Salvador Sobral won. But when you don’t know the context, the news can be misleading.

They were 35 countries to enter the stage Eurovision Song Contest 2026, bringing together the two semifinals. It is the lowest number ever since there were semi-finals (2004).

This drop is essentially due to boycotts, protests related to the presence of Israel: Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Netherlands and Iceland. These are the 5 countries that didn’t go to Vienna because Israel went. It is the biggest boycott since 1970 – in a year in which Portugal was one of the dropouts.

In addition to not participating, 3 of these countries didn’t even broadcast the semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday, and will not broadcast the final on Saturday: , and Slovenia.

Slovenians will see films and documentaries related to Palestinian rights on RTV. The Irish will watch on RTÉ an episode of a comedy series, , about two priests who try to compose a song to represent Ireland in a festival… similar to Eurovision.

In Portugal, most of the musicians who were at the Festival da Canção would not go to Eurovision if they won. The Bandidos do Cante were one of the few exceptions and the Portuguese event – ​​but for the final in Vienna.

The supposed withdrawal

A few years ago, whoever announced his withdrawal it was really Israel, claimed several media outlets outside Israel.

The story came about in 2017, the year Portugal won thanks to the Sobral brothers: Israel would have left the event.

When the final ended in Kiev, won by , Israeli presenter Ofer Nachshon said: “This was our last night. Soon the IBA will turn off its transmission forever. So, on behalf of everyone at IBA, let me thank Europe for all the magical moments and all these wonderful years.”

Ofer actually said those words. But, as in so many other matters, it is necessary to know the context, highlighted at the time.

The thing is, in the midst of a reform of public television in Israel, and precisely on that early morning in May 2017, the IBA was going to be replaced by a new television channel, the Can. In other words, from 2018 onwards, Kan would be the one who would participate and broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest.

When the Eurovision final was over, the IBA pulled the plug. Forever, in fact. But Israel continued. In fact, the following year, he won Eurovision. In Lisbon, 2018, thanks to Netta.