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Slovenia’s national broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, confirmed it will not air the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
This decision follows the country’s earlier withdrawal from participation in response to Israel’s inclusion in the competition.
Instead of the high-energy performances typically associated with the world's largest music event, Slovenian viewers will see a curated selection of Palestinian documentaries and feature films titled "Voices of Palestine."
The 70th anniversary of the contest takes place in Vienna from May 12 to 16 and operates under the official slogan “United by Music.”
This sentiment currently faces significant pressure from regional geopolitical realities as Slovenia joins Ireland and Spain in a complete broadcasting blackout.
These decisions ensure the event will not reach their national television audiences. Spain’s RTVE reiterated its refusal to air the program, marking the first time the country will not broadcast the extravaganza since it began participating in 1961.
Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ also announced late last year that it would neither participate nor broadcast the 2026 edition.
Ksenija Horvat, Director of RTV Slovenia, told the Associated Press that the broadcaster would show the film series "Voices of Palestine" featuring Palestinian documentaries and feature films.
Slovenia’s domestic political stance has grown increasingly critical of Israeli military actions.
Prime Minister Robert Golob, who won re-election in March 2026, remains a prominent voice regarding the war in Gaza. His administration previously implemented a ban on products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank in Aug. 2025.
This government policy aligns with a broader international shift following a U.N. inquiry in Sept. 2025, which concluded that Israel is committing genocide. Public pressure from the creative community also intensified the movement toward a boycott.
Over 1,000 artists, including Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Paloma Faith, and Sigur Rós, signed an open letter calling for fans to avoid the event.
They stated that they reject Eurovision being used to "whitewash and normalise Israel’s genocide, siege and brutal military occupation against Palestinians."
European Broadcasting Union (EBU) officials have faced consistent accusations of hypocrisy.
These criticisms center on the 2022 expulsion of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Many observers argue that allowing Israel to compete while barring Russia demonstrates a clear double standard.
In an attempt to mitigate political interference, the EBU introduced stricter rules for the 2026 edition. These measures aim to prevent governments and third parties from using undue promotion methods to sway the public vote.
In addition, concerns over voting integrity heightened after the 2025 contest in Basel, after Israel topped the public vote and finished second overall following the jury votes.
Organizers intensified security protocols to strictly prohibit flags categorized as political, specifically targeting the Palestinian flag, which the EBU continues to classify as a political symbol despite its status as a United Nations-recognized state.
These rigid administrative changes reflect a calculated attempt by the EBU to enforce a veneer of apolitical entertainment and keep the gravity of the Gaza conflict off the global stage.
However, the growing list of empty seats in the broadcast schedule suggests that pop music can no longer remain insulated from international law and human rights concerns.
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