Over 1,000 Musicians Urge Eurovision Boycott of Israel; 1,000+ in Entertainment Back It

More than 1,000 musicians signed an open letter calling for a boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in protest of Israel's participation. The open letter was published by the campaign group No Music for Genocide. Signatories include Roger Waters, Massive Attack, Kneecap, Macklemore, Brian Eno, IDLES, Paloma Faith, Sigur Rós, Nadine Shah, and Primal Scream.

Former Eurovision winners Emmelie de Forest from Denmark and Charlie McGettigan from Ireland signed the open letter. Charlie McGettigan won the 1994 Eurovision with Paul Harrington. Charlie McGettigan returned his 1994 Eurovision trophy to the European Broadcasting Union in protest of Israel's participation in the 2026 competition.

The open letter calls on the European Broadcasting Union to ban Israeli broadcaster KAN from participating in the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. The open letter urges artists, public broadcasters, screening party organizers, Eurovision crew members, and fans to boycott the competition until Israel is banned.

The No Music for Genocide campaign calls on artists to have their music geo-blocked inside Israel.

' The open letter states: 'We refuse to be silent when Israel’s genocidal violence soundtracks and silences Palestinian lives. When children in Israeli prisons endure beatings for humming a tune. ' Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Iceland withdrew from the 2026 Eurovision contest after organizers ruled in December 2025 that Israel could participate.

National selection finalists committed to refuse to go to the 2026 Eurovision. The open letter states: 'As artists, we recognize our collective agency – and the power of refusal. We call on others in our industry to join us.

' More than 1,000 members of the entertainment industry signed a separate open letter expressing support for Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision. The supportive open letter was published by the Creative Community for Peace nonprofit organization. Signatories of the supportive open letter include Amy Schumer, Mila Kunis, Gene Simmons, Boy George, Helen Mirren, and Sharon Osbourne.

' 'Michelle' is a trilingual track with lyrics in Hebrew, English, and French. Noam Bettan will perform during the semifinal on May 14, 2026. The grand final of the 2026 Eurovision will take place on May 16, 2026.

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Vienna, Austria. The No Music for Genocide movement launched in September 2025. The No Music for Genocide movement has coordinated the removal of participating artists’ music from all streaming platforms in Israel.

Kneecap stated: 'Russia was banned from Eurovision in 2022. Israel has been murdering Palestinians for decades and is now committing genocide – and for the third year running, they’re welcomed back onto the stage. That’s not neutrality.

' Kneecap stated: 'Silence is complicity. ' The 2025 Eurovision final drew 166 million viewers globally.