Slovenia's national broadcaster RTV has confirmed it will not air the Eurovision song contest this year, instead showing a series of films about Palestine. The decision follows a boycott over Israel's participation in the event.
Spain's RTVE and Ireland's RTÉ have also decided not to broadcast the contest, meaning Spanish television will miss the event for the first time since 1961. The Netherlands and Iceland withdrew from participation last December but will still screen the show on their national broadcasters.
This year's Eurovision, the 70th anniversary edition, will take place in Vienna from 12 to 16 May with 35 competing countries. The walk-outs were prompted by the European Broadcasting Union's decision to allow Israel to compete despite criticism of its conduct in the war in Gaza.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, whose party narrowly won elections in March, has been a vocal critic of Israel's war. In August 2025, his government banned imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The contest, held under the slogan 'United by Music', aims to keep politics off stage but has faced unrest over the Gaza conflict. New rules will be introduced this year to prevent governments and third parties from promoting songs to influence voters, after Israel topped the public vote in the previous contest.
