German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated he would support Germany’s withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel is excluded from participating.
“A scandal that this is even being discussed”
During an interview on ARD, Merz called any discussion of boycotting Israel “a scandal,” saying “Israel has a place there.”
Germany’s stance carries considerable influence within the EBU, as it is one of the contest’s “Big Five”, the group of nations that automatically qualify for the Eurovision Grand Final each year due to their financial contribution. Should Germany withdraw, it would mark one of the most significant moments in Eurovision’s modern history.
A general pressure
Spain, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland might withdraw in case of an Israeli participation. Even former NRK employees urge a boycott of Eurovision 2026, and it’s unknown if the list will grow further.
The EBU General Assembly, scheduled for November, is expected to address these and other concerns regarding country participation. Any formal policy change or decision would likely be discussed and possibly voted on there.
Germany’s Eurovision Journey
Germany has been part of Eurovision since the beginning, debuting in 1956. Their debut entries were Walter Andreas Schwarz’s “Im Wartesaal zum großen Glück” and Freddy Quinn’s “So geht das jede Nacht”. Germany has appeared at every Eurovision except for 1996, which means they have been at more Contests than any other country. They have a long history of success in Eurovision, finishing in the top 3 an impressive 13 times. Germany has won the contest twice: Nicole won in 1982 with her song “Ein bißchen Frieden”, taking home 161 points. Their second win came in 2010, when Lena scored 246 points with her song “Satellite”.
Germany’s most recent Eurovision entry was Abor & Tynna with “Baller”. As Germany is part of the Big 5, it automatically qualified for the Grand Final. In the Final, the song received 151 points and finished in 15th place.
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Source: euronews.com
Photo credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
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