Italian superstar and Eurovision 2022 host Laura Pausini breaks her silence following Levante’s statement, voicing her firm support for Israel’s participation in the contest: “Art must remain free”.
Within a wave of boycotts, cancellations, and calls to exclude Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest and from the cultural sphere in general, a clear voice rises from one of the world’s greatest singers. Laura Pausini, the Italian international superstar and host of Eurovision 2022 in Turin, has this week firmly expressed her support for Israel’s right to participate in the upcoming Eurovision 2026 in Vienna.
“Music Must Unite, Not Divide”
In an interview with the Italian media, Pausini was asked about Israel’s participation in Eurovision. The interview preceded her expected co-hosting of the upcoming “Festival Di Sanremo” alongside Carlo Conti, and featuring Eurovision star Achille Lauro who is expected to join one of the festival’s hosting nights. The festival will once again choose Italy’s entry for Eurovision 2026. Her statements offered a refreshing response; unlike many artists who prefer to remain silent or join the chorus of critics, Pausini chose to stand up for the spirit of the competition, and said:
“In my opinion, it is wrong to prevent an artist from participating in a music competition because of the country they come from, […] We must remember that artists are not the government. They are private individuals, creators, and most often not responsible for the political or military decisions made by their governments”.
She emphasized the universal value of music:
“Art and music have always been bridges — a language with no borders, no right or left, no wars. If we start closing doors to artists, we betray the essence of what we do”.
The Storm Triggered by Levante
Pausini’s remarks did not emerge in a vacuum. They came as a direct response to the controversial statement made by singer Levante, one of the standout participants in this year’s “Festival Di Sanremo”. Levante had declared that if she were to win the festival, she would refuse to represent Italy in Eurovision as long as Israel participated — as a protest against the war in Gaza. Pausini, in contrast, made her position clear: “I would go”.
A Critical Moment in Italy
Pausini’s words carry even more weight considering the timing and location. The “Festival Di Sanremo“, taking place later this month, became last year a stage for political controversy when rapper Ghali used his performance to call “to stop the genocide” — sparking a diplomatic row between Israel and Italy. Additionally, three minority board members of Italy’s national broadcaster RAI demanded Palestinian representation at Eurovision 2026, a move presented as a call for unity and peace.
At such a critical juncture, a voice like Pausini’s — a national icon in Italy and a singer with tens of millions of fans worldwide — offers a unifying and rational counterbalance to the growing wave of extremism in Europe. Similar protests have already led to withdrawals in Spain and Slovenia. Pausini, known for spanning continents and languages, reminds Europe of what many have forgotten: Eurovision was created to unite people — not divide them.
An International Album with a Eurovision Touch
Alongside the political discourse, Pausini revealed an exciting detail for fans of the contest. Her new album “Io Canto 2” has just been released, featuring several fascinating collaborations, including a French-language cover of “Due Vite” (in English: “Two Lives”) by Marco Mengoni, who represented Italy at Eurovision 2023. The new version, titled “La Dernière Chanson”, is performed as a duet with French artist Julien Lieb, strengthening Pausini’s long-standing connection to the Eurovision family.
Italy at Eurovision 2025
“Volevo essere un duro” (in English: “I Wanted to Be Tough”) is the song performed by singer Lucio Corsi, which came second at the 75th edition of the Sanremo Festival. The song was written by the singer himself along with Tommaso Ottomano. This was the singer’s first-ever appearance at the festival. The song is performed in Italian. The song finished fifth in the grand final with 256 points.
Italy returns to the Eurovision Grand Final Top 5 after last year achieving “only” seventh place.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Italy’s 51st participation in Eurovision. Italy joined the contest in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won three times over the years. Italy’s most recent victory was at Eurovision 2021 with the song “Zitti e buoni” performed by the band Måneskin.
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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.
