Portuguese musicians to boycott Eurovision if Israel joins

A group of prominent Portuguese musicians has announced they will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel remains among the participating countries.

The decision follows actions by several European nations. Iceland has recently joined Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia in stepping away from Eurovision 2026. In Portugal, 17 artists who are set to compete in the national selection show Festival da Canção said they would decline to represent the country even if chosen.

In a joint statement, the artists said they reject what they described as complicity in human rights violations. They argued that while Russia was excluded from the 2022 Eurovision contest over political concerns, Israel continues to participate despite accusations from United Nations bodies regarding actions in Gaza.

“We use words and music to act within the space we are given,” the statement said. “We cannot accept silence or collaboration in the face of human rights abuses.”

Portugal’s public broadcaster, RTP, responded by confirming that the Festival da Canção would go ahead as planned and that Portugal intends to remain part of Eurovision 2026, regardless of individual artists’ decisions.

The issue has also drawn criticism from Salvador Sobral, Portugal’s only Eurovision winner, who accused RTP of avoiding a clear moral stance in a video posted on social media.

Public reaction inside Portugal has intensified, with a petition calling for the country’s immediate withdrawal from Eurovision gaining momentum. More than 22,000 people have signed the appeal, arguing that continuing participation places Portugal “on the wrong side of history.”

The petition further claims that ongoing violence in Gaza and allegations of irregularities during the 2025 Eurovision contest in Basel highlight what it describes as the European Broadcasting Union’s failure to prevent political influence in the event.