Overview
- The No Music for Genocide open letter, released Tuesday, urges fans, performers, crews, and public broadcasters to boycott the May contest unless the EBU bans Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN.
- More than 1,100 artists and cultural workers signed the call, including Brian Eno, Massive Attack, IDLES, Sigur Rós, Paloma Faith, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, and Macklemore.
- The letter argues the EBU is applying a double standard by keeping Russia barred since 2022 for its invasion of Ukraine while allowing Israel to compete during the war in Gaza.
- Several national broadcasters have withdrawn in protest, with Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands pulling out, while the BBC and Germany’s SWR say they will still take part in Vienna on May 16.
- The campaign partners with the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel and builds on a 2025 drive that saw artists geo‑block their music from streaming in Israel.