Eurovision has long been a source of contention, especially regarding its participants. Since Australia's inclusion was questioned in 2015, the debate has intensified. Now, with Israel taking part in the iconic singing competition, many have called for a boycott, including several countries such as Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain. These nations have taken a stand due to the Israeli government's actions during the war in Gaza. Many argue that Israel should be treated like Russia, which was banned in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine. However, the issue has nuances. Metro speaks to two writers, both Eurovision fans, to discuss whether they will boycott this year.
Dayna Camilleri Clarke: I'll Never Boycott Eurovision — Smaller Countries Need It
When I lived in the UK, I used to watch Eurovision ironically. For many Brits, the competition is synonymous with eye-rolling kitsch commentary and rock-bottom expectations. Its novelty acts and proclamations of 'nul points' were impossible to take seriously. But after living in Malta for 11 years, my perspective has flipped. On an island just 17 miles long, the Eurovision buzz here feels like the World Cup, the Oscars, and a national holiday all rolled into one. It is a moment of collective pride that reverberates through every bar, village square, and living room. Because the island is so tiny, it's impossible to avoid. That's why I'm still choosing to watch it this year.
I want to clarify that I completely understand why so many people are boycotting the contest. The genocide in Gaza is nothing short of horrific, and I appreciate that for many viewers, it feels impossible to separate the sequins and showmanship of Eurovision from the reality of a humanitarian crisis. Eurovision was founded in 1956 to help unite a fractured continent after the war. The world feels just as divided today, and that's why the competition's original mission to use music as a bridge is just as relevant in 2026 as it was in the 1950s. The annual competition is one of the last genuinely shared cultural events we have left. For one night, the rest of Europe looks at these often overlooked places on the screen and asks, 'Where is that?' That exposure brings immense pride that people in larger nations perhaps don't fully appreciate.
For island nations like Malta and Cyprus, or tiny territories like San Marino, this is a rare moment of cultural visibility on a global stage. These countries lack the clout of massive music industries, so Eurovision is the one night where they stand on a level playing field with giants like France or Italy. I see it as a case of not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. If we boycott the entire show, we risk snubbing nations and artists who have nothing to do with the conflict. This year, Malta's representative is Aidan, and when he steps onto the stage to perform his song 'Bella', it will be a historic homecoming: it marks the first time in over 50 years that lyrics containing the national Maltese language will be heard by hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. This is a career-defining platform, and to boycott the event is to pull the rug out from under artists who have worked their whole lives for this three-minute window.
The community aspect cannot be understated. In Malta, the island reaches a fever pitch. People have Eurovision tattoos, bars and official fan zones are packed for the semi-finals, and families are united by the staging and the scores. In the same breath, I also think there is undeniably a conversation about double standards, and the fact that while Russia was banned in 2022, Israel is still allowed to participate. People are entitled to draw their own line and protest in whatever way feels right for them. For me, I don't think continuing to watch Eurovision makes someone indifferent to suffering. People are capable of feeling horrified by what's happening in Gaza while still valuing a contest that means so much to smaller countries and artists. Eurovision has always belonged more to the people watching it than the politicians surrounding it. If everyone switches off completely, it's the smaller nations and performers who end up disappearing from view. That sense of connection and recognition is still worth holding onto.
Isabella Silvers: I've Always Loved Eurovision — But It's Time to Switch Off
I have always loved Eurovision. In fact, you could say I was raised on it: an avid fan, my mum watched the competition every year, and even went to the live finals when they were held in Birmingham's NEC in 1998. Watching it with her quickly became one of my favourite annual rituals. From Alexander Rybak's Fairytale in 2009 to Måneskin's career-changing Zitti E Buoni, there's nothing quite like it. I love the sequins, Graham Norton's exquisite commentary, and the inexplicable acts you'd only ever see on a Eurovision stage — like masked metal band Lordi's unexpected win in 2006. But no matter how much I enjoy the competition, I'm boycotting. I haven't watched a single performance for the past two years, and the same goes for 2026's contestants. I have one reason for this: the Israeli government.
Since 2023, the Israeli government has launched a brutal attack on men, women, and children in Palestine, and a UN Commission has confirmed that this is genocide. As of March 2026, the death toll was over 69,000, including more than 17,000 children. Over 170,000 people have been injured, and 90% of Gaza's population have been displaced from their homes, often more than once. The entire population is currently facing a severe lack of food, putting their lives in immediate danger. When the Russian government invaded Ukraine in 2022, the European Broadcasting Union, which produces Eurovision, banned Russia from competing. They said Russia's inclusion could bring the contest into disrepute 'in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine'. It's worth noting that the EBU initially allowed Russia to perform but bowed to pressure after a threatened boycott from other countries. I simply cannot understand why the same action hasn't been taken against Israel. Their continued inclusion is a clear and unconscionable double standard.
In fact, Eurovision seems more concerned with Israel's dodgy voting manipulation campaign than the fact that they shouldn't even be there in the first place. There has been controversy over how much Israel is adhering to the strictly 'non-political' rules of the EBU, with weeks of negotiations around their 2024 entry, which was initially called 'October Rain' and was thought to reference the Hamas attacks before being substantially rewritten. I used to look forward to the fun and frivolity of Eurovision every year; now, all I can think about is the thousands of Palestinian men, women, and children who have been starved, injured, and killed by Israeli attacks. It's impossible to find joy in a show that does not sanction the inhumane actions of a barbaric government. And I'm not alone — alongside viewers turning their TVs off in droves, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have all pulled out of Eurovision 2026, while Germany threatened to withdraw if Israel were banned.
This Saturday night, I'll be streaming Jaja Ding Dong from Netflix's Eurovision Song Contest film, or maybe reading Katrina Logan's rom-com Somewhere in the Crowd, the story of four friends who reunite every year for the song contest. While I'd love to be locked into the chaos of the live final, until Israel is forced to face the consequences of its actions, it's nul points from me.
