Protesters at RTS in Belgrade demand a boycott of Eurovision 2026 due to the inclusion of the Israeli entry by Kan
A small group of protesters, organized under the initiative Naš pRoTeSt (Our Protest), recently held a demonstration in front of the building of the Serbian national broadcaster, RTS, in Belgrade. The protesters demanded that the national broadcaster boycott the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, claiming that the country’s participation alongside Israel constitutes a legitimization of its policies.
A Small Scale Protest in Belgrade
During the demonstration, organizers called on RTS to withdraw from the competition, asked local Serbian artists to cancel their performances, and urged business owners in the capital not to screen the contest broadcasts. Instead, the protesters suggested holding alternative events focusing on Palestinian culture and the situation in Gaza. Despite the media attention, it is important to emphasize that this was a small group of protesters that does not reflect the general public or governmental sentiment; the Serbian government is known to be very supportive of Israel and maintains strong ties with the nation.
The demonstration in Belgrade is not an isolated incident but part of a wave of protests sweeping parts of Europe. In recent months, demonstrations and protests have been recorded against national broadcasters in Malta, where groups of artists and political activists called for Israel’s exclusion from the contest. Additionally, in Latvia, a protest against the Israeli entry broke out outside the venue during the broadcast of the Latvian national selection. In many European cities, petitions signed by thousands of local musicians have been submitted, arguing that measures similar to those taken against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine should be applied to Israel.
Public pressure has led to unprecedented tension within the European music industry. The protest reached a peak when the winner of Eurovision 2024, Nemo, announced that they return the winner’s trophy to the EBU. The Swiss artist, who won the title with the song “The Code”, argued that the inclusion of the Israeli entry in the competition contradicts the values the event claims to represent.
However, the dispute resulted in a notable series of withdrawals. Subsequent to the decision by the EBU, a number of nations announced they would not take part in the next contest, among them Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain. The national broadcasters of these countries noted specifically that the withdrawal serves as a protest against the Israeli participation in the song contest, which positions the event at one of the most complicated and fractured points in its history.
Serbia at Eurovision 2026
“Kraj mene” (in English: “By My Side”) is the title of the song Lavina will perform to represent Serbia at Eurovision 2026, which will take place in Vienna, in the second half of the first semi-final on May 12th. The song was written by Sika and Aurimas Galvelis.
The song deals with feelings of intense love and the accompanying pain, with the lyrics describing feelings of longing, shared memories, and a deep connection that persists despite difficulties and distances.
Currently, Serbia is ranked 25th in the betting tables ahead of Eurovision 2026.
Lavina – Who Are You?
Lavina is a Serbian band active in the local alt-pop-rock scene, blending modern sound, clean production, and pronounced on-stage energy. The lineup is characterized by a contemporary yet melodic approach, with an emphasis on catchy choruses and dynamic arrangements that are reinforced in live performances. They gained broad exposure through their first-time participation in “Pesma za Evroviziju”, reinforcing their status as a symbol of a younger generation in Serbian music.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Serbia’s 18th participation in Eurovision. Serbia joined the contest in 2007 and achieved its best result in the same year when singer Marija Šerifović won first place with the song “Molitva”.
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Aviad Berger – Israeli editor, reporter, and content creator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has been working with the EuroMix editorial team for about a year and a half. Since 2024, he has provided continuous Eurovision coverage from the host city, delivering live updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth commentary.
Aviad is also a video editor and filmmaker active in the Israeli media industry.
