Eurovision 2026: Three Countries Won’t Even Air Song Contest

Last year, five nations’ broadcasters announced they were withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest in solidarity with Palestine, after bosses confirmed that Israel would be invited back in 2026.

Ireland was the first to withdraw in the immediate aftermath, followed by Spain, The Netherlands and Slovenia, with Iceland becoming the fifth around a week later.

This year’s song contest is now about to get underway with the first live semi-final on Tuesday night, with three of the five boycotting nations not airing any coverage of Eurovision in 2026.

On Thursday, Ireland’s RTÉ will show a special episode of the travel show The End Of The World With Beanz featuring former Eurovision champion Niamh Kavanagh.

In place of Saturday’s live final, meanwhile, they’ll be reairing an old episode of Father Ted centred around the Eurovision Song Contest.

Father Ted creator Graham Linehan has became a prominent voice in the anti-transgender movement in recent years, and is also staunchly pro-Israel.

He has lambasted the decision to re-air the Father Ted episode in place of Eurovision, describing the move as “a tool of antisemitic harassment” on X.

It was already announced that Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV would be dedicating their Saturday night scheduled to platforming Palestinian artists and creators, while Spain’s RTVE has put together its own alternative musical celebration called The House Of Music.

Back in February, Spain went ahead with its Eurovision selection show Benidormfest, changing the prize from a spot at the international song contest to a cash prize.

Meanwhile, The Netherlands and Iceland will air Eurovision 2026 as planned, despite not taking part themselves.

Eurovision director Martin Green said in response to Ireland, Spain, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland’s choice to pull out of the 2026 contest: “All of us here respect their position and decision. We will continue to work with them as friends and colleagues in the hope they return to the contest soon.