A surprising move: Slovenian artists circumvent the boycott on Israel and shake up Eurovision 2026, competing under other European flags.
Recently, it was revealed that several Slovenian artists chose to ignore the boycott imposed by the Slovenian national broadcaster on Eurovision 2026. They plan to participate in the contest – but under the flags of other European countries. The move has triggered public uproar in Slovenia and sends a clear message: despite political attempts to silence them, music is stronger than political boycotts.
Slovenian Boycott and Withdrawal from Eurovision
Slovenia announced its withdrawal from the competition scheduled to take place in Vienna as part of the boycott against Israel’s participation. The Slovenian national broadcaster RTVSLO claimed the decision followed public pressure, but several Slovenian artists opposed the move imposed upon them and found creative ways to reach the European stage.
Eva Marija Represents Slovenia Through Luxembourg
The first sign of the boycott’s collapse came last weekend from an unexpected place: Luxembourg. In Saturday’s Luxembourgish national final, young singer Eva Marija won with the song “Mother Nature”. However, it soon became clear that Eva Marija isn’t just another representative of Luxembourg – she is the daughter of Slovenian parents, fluent in the language, and deeply connected to her Slovenian roots.
Her victory stirred strong reactions among the Slovenian public and media. Alenka Gotar, who represented Slovenia at Eurovision 2007, launched a harsh attack on the broadcaster RTVSLO following the result, and sharply wrote:
“It’s a shame Slovenians must seek their opportunity abroad, Our country, driven by certain political elites, has taken away every chance for artists to show their potential. […] If they were truly sincere in their political stance, they would also cancel the participation of Slovenian athletes in the Olympic Games because of Israel. There’s far more money involved in sports”.
Maraaya and Another Slovenian Stars Choose San Marino
Eva Marija isn’t alone. Reports reveal that several top Slovenian stars have registered for “San Marino Song Contest” (“San Marino Song Contest”), long regarded as the “back door” for foreign artists seeking a path to Eurovision.
The most notable name on the list is the duo Maraaya, remembered by Eurovision fans for representing Slovenia in 2015 with the hit “Here For You”. They became famous for their signature headphones, an accessory that became their lasting trademark. Now, with their home country and its national broadcaster closing doors on them, the duo is trying to represent the microstate of San Marino. Joining them are popular singer Luka Basi and performer PolarAce.
A Clear Message: Music Over Politics
The current situation creates a strange paradox: while Slovenia’s flag won’t appear on the Vienna stage as a protest against Israel, more Slovenian performers may stand on that stage than in typical years—just under other countries’ flags. The attempt by the Slovenian national broadcaster to use Eurovision as a political weapon seems to have achieved only one result: a “brain drain” (and “voice drain”) to nations that choose to embrace talent rather than mix music with politics.
Slovenia at Eurovision 2025
“How Much Time Do We Have Left” is the title of the song performed by singer Klemen in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2025. Slovenia failed to qualify for the grand final, after two consecutive years of success. The country finished 13th out of 15, earning only 23 points.
Eurovision 2025: This was Slovenia’s 30th participation in Eurovision. Slovenia joined the competition in 1993 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 1995 and Eurovision 2001 after finishing seventh twice.
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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.
