82% of Britons say Israel should be disqualified from Eurovision 2026 after the EBU ruled it may participate. What do party leaders in the United Kingdom think?
A survey conducted in Britain found that seven out of every ten people in the United Kingdom support boycotting Eurovision 2026 because of Israel’s participation. The EBU convened a committee on Thursday, December 4th, 2025, at which it was decided that Israel will continue to participate in the contest. Countries such as Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and The Netherlands – and yesterday, December 10th, 2025, also Iceland – announced that they will boycott the contest after calling for Israel to be disqualified because of the military operation in Gaza, and even accused Israel of using unfair voting methods at Eurovision 2025.
70% of Britons support boycotting Eurovision 2026 because of Israel’s participation, according to a survey conducted in the country. The EBU ruled last week that Israel will continue to participate in the contest. Iceland joined yesterday Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and The Netherlands, which had announced that they will boycott the contest following this decision.
The British national broadcaster BBC announced that it supports the decision to allow Israel to continue participating in the contest, but a new survey by Pablo O’Hana, a senior political consultant who has worked with ministers in Britain and with Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in the United States in 2024, showed that most of the British public thinks differently.
“Eurovision is not just songs and performances”
The survey found that 82% of Britons believe that Israel should be disqualified from Eurovision 2026, and that if Israel is allowed to participate, 69% claim that Britain should withdraw from the contest. 75% think that the ban on Russia’s participation while allowing Israel’s participation is inconsistent, and that a clear and consistent decision must be made regarding countries that are at war. O’Hana said:
“Eurovision is not just songs and performances, […] it sends a message, it exposes, it presents values. If Israel competes, most Britons believe that they must withdraw from the contest”.
Politicians speak out for and against Israel
Ed Davey, leader of the third‑largest party in Britain, who has previously accused Israel of escalating the fighting in Gaza, criticized the Liberal Democrats, Ireland and the other countries that chose to boycott Eurovision and argued:
“There is a ceasefire in Gaza, and therefore boycotting the contest is the wrong move”.
In response, Member of Parliament Zarah Sultana, a key figure in a new left‑wing party, described Davey as “spineless”. The Green Party, which had previously supported a boycott of Israel, announced:
“Since Israel has been allowed to participate in Eurovision 2026, Britain must join Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and The Netherlands and boycott the contest. A massive music event like this, the biggest in the world, cannot be used to support Israel’s actions in Gaza”.
The head of the Conservative Party, Kevin Hollinrake, insisted that Britain is a friend of Israel and therefore should participate in the contest.
United Kingdom at Eurovision 2025
The song “What The Hell Just Happened?” was performed by the girl group Remember Monday, representing the United Kingdom at Eurovision. The group finished 19th in the Grand Final with 88 points – all from the juries. While the juries ranked the group 10th, the public gave the Unoted Kingdom zero points, placing the song last.
Despite the United Kingdom’s storied Eurovision history, in the past 25 years, it has managed to reach the Top 10 only three times – in 2002, 2009 and 2022.
Eurovision 2026: This will be the 68th participation of the United Kingdom in Eurovision. The United Kingdom joined the competition in 1957 and has won it five times over the years. The United Kingdom’s last victory was in Eurovision 1997 with the song ‘Love Shine A Light’ performed by the band Katrina and the Waves.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
