More than a thousand musicians and artists around the world have called for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in May in Vienna, in protest against Israel's participation. The signatories called for the exclusion of the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, which "has become complicit in crimes against humanity committed by Israel." The letter, posted on the No Music for Genocide movement's website, had collected more than 1,100 signatures by Tuesday. The Eurovision Song Contest, which celebrates its 70th edition this year, is subjected to the largest boycott in its history due to Israel's participation.

Published on: 04/23/2026 - 10:32

More than a thousand musicians around the world called for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest in May, held in Vienna, in protest against Israel's participation.

The letter, posted on the No Music for Genocide movement's website, had collected more than 1,100 signatures by Tuesday.

Most of the signatories are artists under contract to small and medium-sized production companies, but they include famous groups and singers such as Massive Attack, Nicab, Macklemore and Roger Waters.

Read also: Eurovision Song Contest... Countries threaten to boycott if Israel participates in the contest

The signatories call for the exclusion of the Israeli public broadcaster (KAN), which “has become complicit in crimes against humanity committed by Israel.”

French-Israeli singer Noam Bitan (27 years old) was chosen to represent Israel, as the competition has a large following and its candidates enjoy great support.

The Eurovision Song Contest, which celebrates its 70th edition this year, is subject to the largest boycott in its history due to Israel's participation.

Broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Slovenia announced their withdrawal.

The withdrawing countries criticized the bloody and destructive Israeli war in Gaza after the attack by the Palestinian Hamas movement on October 7, 2023.

Israel has won the Eurovision Song Contest four times, most recently in 2018.

France 24/AFP

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