A new Norwegian survey reveals that most citizens believe the national broadcaster NRK should vote against Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. But will it affect NRK’s decision?
The debate over Israel’s participation continues to stir controversy across Norway. According to a new poll conducted by Norstat for the national broadcaster NRK, six out of ten Norwegians believe that Norway should vote against Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, set to take place in Vienna, Austria.
Divided Voices: Culture or Politics?
Opinions remain split: some Norwegians argue that every country should be allowed to participate regardless of political circumstances, emphasizing that Eurovision is a cultural stage, not a diplomatic arena. Others contend that countries involved in armed conflicts should be barred from competing. Still, the data show that about 22% of respondents support Norway’s continued participation in the contest – even if Israel remains in the lineup.
NRK Responds: “The Poll Won’t Influence Our Decision”
Charlo Halvorsen, Head of Entertainment at NRK, clarified that the survey results will not affect the national broadcaster’s decision regarding participation in Eurovision 2026:
“It’s interesting to see the numbers – but it does not influence our decision”.
Halvorsen told NRK in an interview. The broadcaster emphasized that it will not make decisions based on public opinion, but rather in accordance with the contest’s principles and the EBU guidelines. This stance aligns with that of other countries, including Germany and Austria, which have publicly condemned calls for boycotts and reaffirmed that the competition’s purpose is to unite cultures, not divide them.
Implications for Israel
Despite boycott efforts by certain groups and political voices, it appears that most major European broadcasters have no intention of bowing to political pressure. Many of them continue to highlight that the Eurovision Song Contest is designed to foster cultural exchange and serve as a bridge of art and music between nations — not a political battleground. NRK’s statement serves as a significant signal in favor of maintaining the contest’s foundational principles. In many ways, it also represents a symbolic moral victory for Israel, even before Eurovision 2026 begins.
Norway at Eurovision 2025
“Lighter” was the song performed by Kyle Alessandro, who represented Norway in the Eurovision 2025 grand final. Norway finished in 18th place overall with 89 points – 67 points from the audience and 22 points from the juries. In the televote, Norway ranked 12th, while in the jury vote, it reached 23rd place.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Norway’s 64th participation in Eurovision. Norway joined the competition in 1960 and has won three times over the years. Their last win was in Eurovision 2009 with the song “Fairytale” performed by Alexander Rybak.
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Neta Geffen is a respected journalist at Euromix, Israel’s leading news site for Eurovision coverage. Since 2010, Neta has been closely following the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing with him extensive experience, profound knowledge, and a broad understanding of the history, politics, and cultural influences that shape the event every year.
Neta publishes articles, analyses, and up-to-date reviews on all Eurovision developments, including musical trends, format changes, political influences, and audience reactions across Europe and Israel. Thanks to a deep connection to the contest’s history, Neta provides readers with wide-ranging context—from the impact of political events on results, to in-depth analyses of songs and languages within the competition. Neta specializes particularly in the Eurovision rock genre, Balkan ballads, and native language entries, with a special focus on Italian and Greek songs.
