Paloma Faith and Over 1,100 Artists Demand Eurovision Boycott Over Israel's Participation
Paloma Faith, Massive Attack, Paul Weller, and the Irish rap trio Kneecap are among more than 1,100 musicians and cultural workers who have signed a letter calling for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The protest targets the inclusion of Israel in the popular music competition, with artists urging organisers to ban the country due to the ongoing conflict with Palestine.
Campaign Group No Music For Genocide Coordinates Protest
The letter has been coordinated by the campaign group No Music For Genocide (NMFG), which argues that Israel should be excluded from Eurovision because of its actions in Gaza. Other notable signatories include David Holmes, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, and Macklemore, amplifying the call for cultural institutions to take a stand.
The protest letter explicitly demands that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs Eurovision, ban Israel from participating. It draws a direct comparison to the EBU's decision to ban Russia from the contest in 2022 following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, accusing the organisation of hypocrisy for not applying the same standard to Israel.
Artists Accuse Eurovision of Whitewashing Genocide
In the letter, signatories accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and state that Eurovision should not "whitewash and normalise" the country's actions. The artists declare that they "refuse to be silent" and call on public broadcasters, performers, screening party organisers, crew, and fans to refuse participation or platform Eurovision until Israel is banned.
Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja, who signed the letter, was recently arrested during a mass protest in central London against the ban on Palestine Action, highlighting the escalating tensions surrounding the issue. Kneecap, known for their politically charged music, issued a strong statement condemning the EBU's stance.
Kneecap and Other Artists Speak Out
Kneecap said: "Russia was banned from Eurovision in 2022. Israel has been murdering Palestinians for decades and is now committing genocide – and for the third year running, they’re welcomed back onto the stage. That’s not neutrality. That’s a choice. We’ve paid a price for speaking out – lost gigs, court cases, visa bans – and we’d do it all again tomorrow. Silence is complicity. We stand with No Music for Genocide and every artist, fan and broadcaster who refuses to let the world’s biggest music event be used to whitewash genocide. No stage for genocide. Free Palestine."
NMFG Highlights Historical Context and Global Support
NMFG organisers provided historical context, stating: "Every year, for its entire 53-year tenure as a Eurovision participant, Israel has perpetuated its terrorising systems of apartheid, torture, land theft, and military occupation against Palestinians from the river to the sea with complete impunity. While many of us in the industry make light of Eurovision or doubt our own power as cultural producers, genocidal Israel’s leaders speak openly about the contest’s geopolitical value."
The group also emphasised broader grassroots support, noting alignment with initiatives such as the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, Film Workers For Palestine in Hollywood, and striking dockworkers in Italy and Morocco. They asserted that people of conscience worldwide are fighting complicity across industries for a free Palestine and a freer world.
The letter calls for countries to follow the example of national broadcasters from Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Spain, which have already withdrawn their participation from Eurovision. As the controversy intensifies, Eurovision has been contacted for comment, but no response has been reported at this time.
