Cancellation of the "European Tour" for Eurovision 2026 Due to Controversy Over Israel's Participation

SadaNews - The European Broadcasting Union announced yesterday evening the cancellation of the "European Tour" associated with the Eurovision Song Contest, amidst ongoing controversy and objections against Israel's participation in the 2026 edition.

The union clarified in an official statement that the decision came in light of the rising boycott and pressure surrounding Israel's participation, due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

It noted that after five countries announced their withdrawal from the competition, it was decided not to organize the "European Tour," which was one of the main events accompanying the next edition, and was scheduled to take place after the competition in May.

The statement quoted the competition's director, Martin Green, as saying that the decision to cancel was not easy, adding: "Despite the tremendous efforts made by our team, producers, and organizers, we faced unforeseen challenges that we were unable to overcome."

Green confirmed that the focus will now be on organizing the 70th edition of the competition, which is set to be held in May next year in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

The European Broadcasting Union had held its 95th general meeting on December 4, 2025, in Geneva, where it approved allowing Israel to participate in the 2026 edition. Following this, public broadcasting bodies in Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia announced their withdrawal from the competition in protest against the decision.

———