Over the past few days, I’ve browsed online through quite a few Eurovision social media feeds and content creators. Barely any of them had anything positive to say about the recent decision not to exclude Israel. Most of them felt the Eurovision Song Contest had been damaged; in many cases they thought the damage was irreparable. Many of you will be wondering what to do next.
In this article, I’ll be laying out some options. I won’t tell any of you what to do – that’s your call. Many people in the community are feeling a mix of sadness, anger, and loss, and I have no intention of adding judgment to anyone. The four options I’ll be exploring here are boycott, no boycott, partial boycott and exploring alternatives. You might choose one of these, or maybe take a “little bit from column A, little bit from column B” approach.
EBU Headquarters in Geneva (Image: EBU)
Boycotting Eurovision
You may have already decided you’re done with the Song Contest, at least for 2026. I’ve already noticed several content providers who have decided to stop broadcasting. Eirevision has announced that “our podcast has always existed to follow Ireland’s Eurovision story. If Ireland is not to compete, then Éirevision will respectfully cease production in line with that decision.” Eurovision Hub said, “The Eurovision we once knew, that shaped this community and inspired us to create this channel, just isn’t the one we fell in love with all those years ago.” ESC Harry concluded his YouTube output with the simple words, “F*ck the EBU.”
Solidarity aside, there are sound reasons to do this. Let’s assume nothing untoward follows the recent round of withdrawal contests. No more countries pull out, and any protests are manageable. An uneasy calm takes hold in the Middle East, and the political tensions don’t escalate further. Even if all that happens, and that’s a big if, it’s still going to be a very toxic atmosphere to walk into in Vienna. Every artist will be asked what they think about it. Repeatedly. I don’t envy the position any of those artists will be in.
All of which begs the question, why would you want anything to do with that? Even in that best-case scenario, Eurovision 2026 isn’t going to be fun, and what’s the point of Eurovision if it isn’t fun?
One thing I will say is that if you make this decision, and others around you make a different one, respond with empathy. That doesn’t mean you can’t try to persuade them otherwise, but an empathetic approach is more likely to change their minds than a hostile one.
Vienna 2015 Press Centre
No Boycott
The first thing I’ll say is that this isn’t a situation, as a whole, that is easy for anyone. Fandoms form communities, and for some people, the Eurovision Song Contest is far more than just a bunch of songs. Eurovision’s links to LGBTQ+ identity – both on a personal and societal level – are well-documented. Rather less understood, but no less powerful is the Contest’s links to neurodiversity.
I’ve met no shortage of fans for whom this is an autistic special interest. Some content creators have also freely admitted they’ll struggle to walk away because it’s become a source of income. Joining a boycott would mean not just leaving a hobby but possibly also a job. ESC Tom is one of those creators who has talked about this dilemma (though he has also said that he’s considering his exit strategies, such as rekindling the professional registration of his former occupation while he continues putting out National Final content for now).
It may be that you feel that the story of the Song Contest should be more than about Israel. Alternatively, you may feel an urge to bear witness to whatever happens next. Both of these are valid thoughts, and I must confess they kept me watching in 2024 and 2025. I also have to admit that I’m struggling to keep it as a reason to stay in 2026. Then again, we all make moral compromises simply by living in a hyper-capitalist world. I’d rather not give my money to a union-busting, Trump-supporting billionaire, but sometimes the stuff I need is just easier and cheaper to get on Amazon than from a local small business. Recently, I had to abandon my attempts to eat a meat-free diet after developing a soya intolerance. What I’m saying is, all of us are sinners.
Breaking Down Eurovision Staging (image: Ewan Spence)
A Partial Boycott
Some have chosen a halfway option – watch the national finals, and then nope out when events move to Vienna. If you look forward to Festivali i Këngës every Christmas, it’s worth remembering that it has a complex history that predates Albania’s entry into Eurovision. Spain may have pulled out of the contest, but Benidorm Fest is going ahead anyway. Ukraine’s Vidbir has turned into a joyful celebration of artistic defiance against invasion, and watching it feels like an act of solidarity. This is the approach taken by my ESC Insight colleague Fin Ross Russell. He said, “I will still enjoy all the music and memories I have, I will even continue to enjoy National Finals like Melodifestivalen, Melodi Grand Prix and Sanremo – all larger than life shows which have their own context and heritage distinct from Eurovision.”
To those torn about what to do, a partial boycott has the advantage of being a “holding pattern” while waiting to see how future events pan out. Who knows what might happen between now and May? We could see protests at National Finals. Artists and delegations may pull out – either because of security reasons or because the controversy becomes too great. The geopolitical situation may destabilise the Contest further. Personally, I think there’s a non-zero chance that Eurovision 2026 ends up not happening at all. Alternatively, pressure from fans and protesters may make Israel’s presence untenable.
Eurovision Art Installation in Malmo (Photo: Ewan Spence)
Exploring alternatives
If you’re not going to be watching the contest in Vienna, I think it’s worth taking a year to watch some other contests that are out there (where have you gone Turkvision? A fandom turns its lonely eyes to you…). Under the circumstances, the most obvious to mention is Falastinvision – an online contest dedicated to Palestine solidarity. The 2025 edition was streamed on May 17, and is due to return for 2026.
I recently watched and reviewed Pan-ArcticVision, the gleefully anarchic contest showcasing communities in the high North. Next year it’ll be in the Faroes, and I’m already seriously considering a trip there to see those hauntingly beautiful islands and watch the show.
Also in the North is Sàmi Grand Prix. If Keiino in 2019 gave you a taste for joiking, why not check out this celebration of Sapmi culture and music?
Pan-ArcticVision 2025 Performers (Pan-ArcticVision Instagram).
There’s the Putin-led alternative to Eurovision, but I will not be speaking its name, and I certainly don’t recommend that anyone should watch it. Frankly, if you feel Eurovision has placed itself beyond the moral pale, why would you indulge that one?
What Will I Be Doing?
Personally, my plan for the next year is a partial boycott while also exploring the alternatives – the “little bit from column A, little bit from column B” option that I mentioned at the start of this article.
I say this not to suggest what you should do. The options are for you to weigh up and decide. Festivali i Këngës has become part of my household’s yuletide celebration, and I’m not giving it up simply because the EBU made an appalling decision. I had so much fun watching Pan-ArcticVision that it made me curious to check out the likes of Falastinvision too. But the thought of watching Eurovision 2026 itself gives me the same feeling I had just before I deleted my Twitter account. A sense of, “This place feels like a crime scene. I shouldn’t be here.”
I don’t envy the artists and delegations who are probably going to walk into a political minefield when all they want to do is sing a song. There’s a high chance it’ll descend into chaos, and let’s be honest, Israel is very likely to win. It has a highly mobilised, deeply politicised televote and that’s not going to go away just because of a few tweaks to the rulebook.
Vienna 2026 can count me out.