Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia have announced they won’t take part in Eurovision 2026 after organisers confirmed Israel will remain in the line-up. Broadcasters had lobbied for Israel to be removed due to the conflict in Gaza and concerns around voting integrity, but a Geneva meeting concluded no further vote on eligibility was needed. As one of the show’s ‘Big Five’ countries, Spain’s RTVE said the outcome had deepened its “distrust” in how the contest is run, while Ireland’s RTÉ said joining the event would be “unconscionable” amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As reported by the BBC, Israel's President Isaac Herzog said the decision was “an appreciated gesture of solidarity, brotherhood, and co-operation, symbolising a victory over those who seek to silence Israel and spread hatred". #Eurovision #EurovisionSongContest #LGBTQNews