Statement on the Eurovision Song Contest 2026
My coverage of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest would be incomplete without discussing some of the major controversies surrounding the contest, and particularly the issue of Israel’s participation. I hope that this statement will outline my thoughts on the matter, and justify my decision to continue my Eurovision coverage this year. Eurovision has always presented itself as an apolitical space: a celebration of music, culture and togetherness that transcends borders. Yet this claim has never fully held up to scrutiny. The Eurovision Song Contest is inherently political – not because every song carries an explicit message, but because the competition is built on nations, representation and visibility. Decisions about who participates, who hosts, which flags are displayed and which narratives are permitted are unavoidably political acts. To pretend otherwise is to misunderstand what Eurovision is and always has been. At its founding in the aftermath of the Second World War, Eurov...