Eurovision is supposed to be a celebration of the unifying power of music. But for the past two years, it has attracted protests and fan boycotts over its inclusion of Israel amid the country’s continued military action in Gaza.

Ahead of 2026’s contest, while nobody has even sung a note yet, a number of countries have been getting vocal.

“If Israel is there, we won’t be there,” says Natalija Gorscak, the president of broadcaster RTV Slovenia.

As the world waits to see what happens with the negotiations over Donald Trump‘s Gaza peace plan, within the cultural world, there’s no let up in the increasing isolation of Israel.

Slovenia and broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Iceland have all issued statements saying if Israel’s allowed to enter, they’ll consider boycotting the contest next year.

Jolted into action by the controversy, officials from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – which runs the contest – have announced plans for an emergency vote.

In a letter to members, EBU president Delphine Ernotte-Cunci said “given that the union has never faced a divisive situation like this before”, the board agreed it “merited a broader democratic basis for a decision”.

Described by the EBU as “an extraordinary meeting of [its] general assembly to be held online”, early next month member countries will be asked to vote on whether Israel should or shouldn’t participate.

Eurovision expert Dr Paul Jordan said: “Ultimately this has been a really challenging issue for the EBU. This is a really complex picture that is building up… and they’ve not been consistent.

“The situation is made even more complicated by the fact the organisers themselves haven’t sometimes followed their own rules about political entries and about political messaging, and they’ve allowed certain countries to, in a sense, get away with breaking the rules or deeming them to have not broken the rules sufficiently to allow participation.

“As far as I’m aware, the Israeli broadcaster has not broken any rules. However, you could argue their inclusion could indeed bring the contest into disrepute, which would be against the organisers’ rules.”

‘We should focus on music’

In 2023, Israel was represented by Noa Kirel, her country’s equivalent to Britney Spears. She came third with her song Unicorn.

“It was one of the highlights in my career, it was an incredible experience for me,” she said.

While she acknowledges “it’s very different from two years ago when I represented Israel”, she hopes her country won’t be excluded next month.

“It’s not about politics, it’s never been like that, and we should keep it that way, to focus on music.”

She believes it would be unfair to punish the Israeli people for the actions of their government: “Voters understand that politics has no connection to this competition.

“Hopefully people will understand and respect that, see the good side… and not the bad side.”

‘European policy needs more balls’

Regardless of the outcome of next month’s vote, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia have all confirmed to Sky News that their plans to boycott will stand as long as Israel’s still at war.

Ms Gorscak said: “We can lie to ourselves and say ‘no, it’s not political’ but, you know, you can’t avoid politics.”

She believes it’s fundamentally wrong for bigger countries to be sitting on the fence.

“We are all somehow prisoner of German guilt towards Israel,” she claimed. “European policy, it needs more balls. In certain moments somebody needs to decide, somebody needs to say ‘this is enough’.”

A spokesperson for German broadcaster SWR has said it “supports the consultation process that has been initiated” and that the goal is “to reach a well-founded and sustainable agreement that aligns with the values of the EBU”.

Read more:
Spain votes to boycott Eurovision if Israel competes
Vienna chosen to host Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Whether Spain abides by the outcome of next month’s vote might have the biggest impact.

If it makes good on its threat to boycott – as one of the big five backers of Eurovision – financially it’ll hurt.

Ms Gorscak explained: “Slovenia is a small country, and while our participation fee is peanuts, if there are more countries who are not participating it is seen in the budget.”

Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN, has said its “potential disqualification… could have wide-ranging implications for the competition and the values for which the EBU stands”.

Dr Jordan said up until now we’ve mostly seen “virtue signalling” when it comes to Eurovision artists speaking out who’ve ultimately opted to perform regardless of their objections to Israel’s inclusion on the night.

However, should entire nations boycott in 2026, he said the impact will be felt way beyond the contest’s final.

“There are two semi-finals, because of the number of participating countries, and if there isn’t a need for two semi-finals that will impact upon the logistics of the event and even the funding,” he explained.

Pop bangers and power ballads aside, the criticism of the EBU has become deafeningly loud. The world waiting and watching for political decisions – and cultural ones too.

The death of journalist and author Hunter S Thompson will be reviewed by Colorado officials at the request of his widow, the state’s bureau of investigation has announced.

Thompson, best known for his 1971 novel Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, died aged 67 on 20 February 2005.

The original investigation concluded the death was from an allegedly self-inflicted gunshot wound and was suicide.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Anita Thompson had requested a case review into her husband’s death, and that it is being carried out to provide an independent perspective on the investigation.

While Sheriff Michael Buglione said there is no new evidence suggesting foul play, “we understand the profound impact Hunter S Thompson had on this community and beyond”.

He added: “By bringing in an outside agency for a fresh look, we hope to provide a definitive and transparent review that may offer peace of mind to his family and the public.”

The CBI added its review would take “an unspecified amount of time”.

Born in 1937, Thompson was regarded as a pioneer in the 1960s New Journalism movement, and wrote the 1967 book Hell’s Angels about the notorious motorcycle gang after spending more than a year living and riding with them.

Famous for his first-person narratives, Thompson’s works inspired a style of reporting called Gonzo journalism – a subjective and more personal style of news writing.

Read more from Sky News:
Michael Mosley: A fearless gonzo journalist
Farage isn’t racist, says PM, but ‘particular policy’ is
Why the US government shutdown is a huge deal

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas was adapted into a film, starring Johnny Depp – a friend of Thompson’s – and Benicio Del Toro, in 1998.

Sky News has contacted The Gonzo Foundation, a non-profit group founded by Ms Thompson to promote literature, journalism and political activism, for comment.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

Broadway actors are preparing to exit the stage in a strike that would shutter more than 30 productions ahead of its peak season.

Actors’ Equity, a union representing 900 performers and stage managers in New York’s iconic theatre scene, said a walkout was on the cards due to a dispute over healthcare.

It’s negotiating with the Broadway League, a trade body representing theatre owners, producers, and operators. A previous three-year contract expired earlier this week.

The union wants the league to increase its contribution to its healthcare fund, which is expected to fall into a deficit before next May. The rate of contributions has remained unchanged for more than a decade.

Actors’ Equity president Brooke Shields said: “Asking our employers to care for our bodies, and to pay their fair share toward our health insurance is not only reasonable and necessary, it’s an investment they should want to make toward the long-term success of their businesses.”

She added: “There are no Broadway shows without healthy Broadway actors and stage managers. And there are no
healthy actors and stage managers without safe workplaces and stable health insurance.”

The Broadway League said it was “continuing good-faith negotiations” to “reach a fair agreement” that works for “shows, casts, crews, and the millions of people from around the world who come to experience Broadway.”

Read more from Sky News:
Boyzone announce reunion
JK Rowling hits out at Emma Watson

Should Broadway fall victim to strike action, it would follow in the footsteps of Hollywood – where writers walked out in 2023, curtailing a number of major productions – and the US video game industry in 2025, with concerns around the use of AI a key driver.

Actors’ Equity has not carried out a major strike since 1968, when a three-day dispute shut down 19 shows. An intervention from the New York City mayor helped both sides come to a deal.