MADRID (AP) — Gone are the elaborate party spreads, festive decorations, and collective excitement over which performer’s extravagant act will claim victory.
For the first time in seven years, Silvia Díaz is skipping her traditional Eurovision Song Contest viewing party this Saturday evening. The annual celebration was canceled after the country’s public television network pulled out of the competition, objecting to Israel’s inclusion due to its military conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Díaz plans to stream it on YouTube instead, but only if her schedule permits.
“It’s not the same watching it alone at home as it is with friends. That’s the only thing that upsets me.”
The five-day musical competition attracted 166 million viewers last year — significantly exceeding Super Bowl audience numbers in the United States. While the country hasn’t claimed victory since 1969, the annual event typically generates months of media coverage, bringing families and friends together at homes and bars, with their representative’s performance making front-page news the following day. Citizens attending the event proudly display their national flag, dress in red attire, or occasionally sport bullfighter outfits.
The boycott was announced in December following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to permit Israel’s participation, with Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland also joining the protest. Many fans support this principled stand despite the disappointment of missing their cherished tradition.
The public broadcaster has consistently voiced opposition to Israel’s involvement. During last year’s semifinals, RTVE’s commentators mentioned Israel’s performer while simultaneously referencing Palestinian casualties from the conflict. Prior to broadcasting the final show, the network displayed “Peace and justice for Palestine” on black screens across hundreds of thousands of television sets throughout the country.
While Eurovision finals proceed in Vienna, RTVE will broadcast a special celebrating the network’s musical heritage, featuring Tony Grox and Lucycalys, the artists originally selected to represent the nation at Eurovision.
Ireland’s public broadcaster will show a documentary about rural Irish life. Slovenian viewers will see an installment of a 10-part series about Palestinians. While audiences can still access Eurovision through the European Broadcasting Union’s YouTube channel, the absence of their own country’s performer or commentary significantly diminishes the passionate atmosphere.
Israel has participated for five decades and secured four victories. Citizens gather at bars to watch and show strong enthusiasm for their country’s involvement, viewing it as validation of international acceptance and normalcy. Each year’s representative becomes a household name, and strong performances — even without winning — generate national pride.
Eurovision enthusiasts are split on this year’s boycott decision.
For Rebeca Carril, who enjoys watching archived performances from the 1960s and 1970s before her birth, the breaking point came several years ago with increased Israeli sponsorship. She refused to support their promotional activities by watching.
“I have Palestinian friends and I began to understand a little better how things worked,” said Carril, a 42-year-old marketing executive in Madrid.
Others, like Guillermina Bastida, believe music and politics should remain separate. She traveled 3 1/2 days from northern regions in a van with her two daughters to attend last year’s competition in Basel, marking her third live attendance. This year, she’ll resort to YouTube viewing.
“It’s a song festival, period,” Bastida, a 47-year-old communications professional, said by phone from Asturias province. “I also have my own stance, which is critical, but not to the point of boycotting the festival.”
Eurovision operates under the slogan “United by Music,” with organizers attempting unsuccessfully in recent years to exclude political elements. Following Ukraine’s invasion in 2022, the European Broadcasting Union expelled Russia, which remains banned. Competition regulations prohibit explicitly political lyrics or symbols, with organizers emphasizing it’s a contest between national broadcasters, not governments.
As one of the “Big Five” nations providing the most financial support to Eurovision, this absence means lost broadcasting revenue and diminished publicity and credibility, according to Jose García, co-director of a competition news website whose social media platforms collectively reach nearly 100,000 followers.
However, complete viewer abandonment is unlikely, he noted.
“It has marked the television and personal history of many people, and fans will watch it via international channels or YouTube. But it’s one thing to be able to watch it and another to agree with what’s happening,” García said.
On Vienna’s streets, the absence of the typically vibrant delegation is apparent, observed Vicente Rico after attending the first semifinal night.
“We’re a group that, just like at other events, makes its presence felt — we’re among the happiest, the loudest and the most fun,” said Rico, 40, who operates a perfumery in Madrid.
This marks Rico’s 18th Eurovision attendance, and he felt conflicted before making his annual journey because he considers the boycott morally justified. Nevertheless, the situation troubles him.
“It bothers me that Eurovision is being used as a scapegoat,” he said, pointing to inaction by international organizations and lack of boycotts at other events like the FIFA World Cup, which begins in a month.
Without his home country competing, who will Rico support?
“I think Finland is going to win, but the support for Italy is crazy,” he said. Victories by Sweden, Serbia or Australia would satisfy him.
“This year, we’re rooting for everyone except Israel.”
