Portugal’s participation in Eurovision next year could be at risk as 11 of the 16 entrants in their song selection contest, Festival da Canção, have refused to represent them if they win.
The 11 entrants put forward a statement declaring that they will decline to represent Portugal at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna next year should they be selected in protest of Israel’s controversial participation in the contest.
The 17 signatories are Cristina Branco, Bateu Matou, Rita Dias, DjoDje, Beatriz Bronze (Evaya), Francisco Fontes, Gonçalo Gomes, Inês Sousa, Jorge Gonçalves (Jacaréu), Marquise, Nunca Mates o Mandarim, Pedro Fernandes, and Rita Dias.
“With words and with songs, we act within the possibilities we are given. We do not accept complicity with the violation of Human Rights,” they said [as translated by Eurovision Fun].
“Despite Russia’s ban from Eurovision 2022 for political reasons (the invasion of Ukraine), we were surprised to see that the same stance was not taken towards Israel, which, according to the United Nations, is committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.”
Israel’s participation in Eurovision has become increasingly contentious due to the country’s conduct in Gaza, which an independent United Nations inquiry found to be a genocide. Israel has denied this.
Portugal’s broadcaster RTP has issued its own statement in response. “Regardless of the decision of the artists who subscribe to the statement, RTP will once again organise Festival da Canção and reaffirms its participation at the #Eurovision Song Contest 2026,” it said.
🇵🇹 RTP has issued a statement in response:
“Regardless of the decision of the artists who subscribe to the statement, RTP will once again organise Festival da Canção and reaffirms its participation at the #Eurovision Song Contest 2026″ https://t.co/azPTz0iaZM
— ESC Discord (@ESCdiscord) December 10, 2025
In addition, other participating broadcasters had raised concerns about Israel’s voting and campaigning, leading to changes to the rules. The EBU is barring its participating broadcasters and artists from “actively” engaging in, facilitating or contributing to promotional campaigns by third parties “that could influence the voting outcome and, as outlined in the updated Code of Conduct, any attempts to unduly influence the results will lead to sanctions.”
In addition, fan votes have been reduced from 20s to 10s, juries have been reinstated in the semi-finals, and the size of the juries have increased from five members to seven.
Nonetheless, there was no vote held on Israel’s participation at the EBU’s general assembly last week. As a result, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia confirmed they would boycott next year’s contest.
Following a board meeting of the broadcaster RÚV today (December 10), Iceland confirmed they were also joining the boycott. They said in a statement that Israel’s participation “has created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public.”
The broadcaster went on to add that participating would be “neither be a source of joy nor peace” considering public opinion in Iceland and the reaction to the EBU’s general assembly last week.
Prior to that, over 70 former Eurovision contestants signed an open letter calling for Israel and national broadcaster KAN to be banned from the 2025 contest. This year’s winner, JJ, has also called for Israel to be banned from the competition in 2026.