After a meeting of the EBU members (the organization behind the contest) today, a new set of rules will be implemented. But the EBU also decided to allow Israel to continue participating, and that has led to Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia announcing that they will boycott the 2026 contest. Iceland and Belgium will decide their future in the near future, and others may follow.

Ireland among countries boycotting Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete

Edited December 4, 2025Dec 4 by I Am A Swede

Iceland will also boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest

Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision

Participants of the 1st Semi-Final (May 12th, 2026)

• Belgium

• Croatia

• Estonia

• Finland

• Georgia

• Greece

• Israel

• Lithuania

• Moldova (last participated in 2024)

• Montenegro

• Poland

• Portugal

• San Marino

• Serbia

• Sweden

Participants of the 2nd Semi-Final (May 14th, 2026)

• Albania

• Armenia

• Australia

• Azerbaijan

• Bulgaria (last participated in 2022)

• Cyprus

• Czechia

• Denmark

• Latvia

• Luxembourg

• Malta

• Norway

• Romania (last participated in 2023)

• Switzerland

• Ukraine

Finalists

• Austria (host)

• France

• Germany

• Italy

• United Kingdom

• + 10 countries from SF1

• + 10 countries from SF2

Withdrawals

• Iceland

• Ireland

• The Netherlands

• Slovenia

• Spain

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Chosen Entries So Far:

Albania: Alis / "Nân"
Language: Albanian

Austria: Cosmó / "Tanzschein"
Language: German

Belgium: Essyla / "Dancing on the Ice"
Language: English

Croatia: Lelek / "Andromeda"
Language: Croatian

Cyprus: Antigoni / "Jalla"
Languages: Greek & English

Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund / "Før vi går hjem"
Language: Danish

Estonia: Vanilla Ninja / "Too Epic to Be True"
Language: English

Greece: Akylas / "Ferto"
Language: Greek

Latvia: Atvara / "Ēnā"
Language: Latvian

Luxembourg: Eva Marija / "Mother Nature"
Language: English

Malta: Aidan / "Bella"
Language: Maltese & English

Moldova: Satoshi / "Viva, Moldova!"
Language: Romanian

Montenegro: Tamara Živković / "Nova zora"
Language: Montenegrin

Ukraine: Leléka / "Ridnym"
Language: Ukrainian & English

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So far, I really only like Denmark and Albania, and Austria and Moldova are at least catchy. The other songs are mediocre at best.