\n Published on
\n 11\/12\/2025 – 9:07 GMT+1\n <\/p>\n
Could Portugal\u2019s participation in next year\u2019s Eurovision Song Contest be at risk? <\/p>\n
Following the news that Iceland has joined Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia in dropping out of Eurovision 2026<\/a>, 17 Portuguese artists and performers in the country\u2019s song selection contest, Festival da Can\u00e7\u00e3o, have announced they are refusing to represent Portugal if they win. <\/p>\n The entrants in the internal contest to elect a representative put forward a statement, protesting Israel\u2019s controversial participation in the contest<\/a>. <\/p>\n The signatories include Cristina Branco, Bateu Matou, Rita Dias, DjoDje, Beatriz Bronze (Evaya), Francisco Fontes, Gon\u00e7alo Gomes, In\u00eas Sousa, Jorge Gon\u00e7alves (Jacar\u00e9u), Marquise, Nunca Mates o Mandarim, and Pedro Fernandes. <\/p>\n \u201cWith words and with songs, we act within the possibilities we are given. We do not accept complicity with the violation of Human Rights,\u201d they said. <\/p>\n \u201cDespite Russia\u2019s ban from Eurovision 2022 for political reasons (the invasion of Ukraine), we were surprised to see that the same stance was not taken towards Israel, which, according to the United Nations, is committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.\u201d <\/p>\n Portugal\u2019s broadcaster RTP has issued a statement in response to the artists\u2019 words, saying: \u201cRegardless of the decision of the artists who subscribe to the statement, RTP will once again organise Festival da Can\u00e7\u00e3o and reaffirms its participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.\u201d <\/p>\n Salvador Sobral, the only Portuguese artist to win Eurovision, criticised RTP’s position in a video on social media, in which he accused of the Portuguese broadcaster of “political cowardice.” <\/p>\n The outrage has also reached the Portuguese public, who have launched a petition<\/a> calling for Portugal’s immediate withdrawal from Eurovision. <\/p>\n Already signed by more than 22,000 people, the document highlights RTP’s vote in favour of Israel’s participation “puts Portugal on the wrong side of history”. <\/p>\n “This stance is unacceptable in the face of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe and military offensive in the Gaza Strip, and in the face of the vote rigging scandals that marred the 2025 edition in Basel, proving the inability of the organisation (EBU) to curb the politicisation of the event,” it reads.<\/p>\n Last week, Israel\u2019s participation in Eurovision 2026 was confirmed by the EBU<\/a>. There was no vote held on Israel\u2019s participation at the EBU\u2019s general assembly, and as a result, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia confirmed they would boycott the event for good. <\/p>\n