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
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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.

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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

Boyzone say Louis Walsh has no involvement in their forthcoming reunion show and will not be taking a cut of the profits.

One of the biggest boybands of the 90s, the Irish group announced they will be reuniting for their “biggest show yet” next summer, performing at the Emirates Stadium in London on 6 June.

But while all four remaining members of the band had been due to attend a press announcement at the London Irish Centre in Camden on Tuesday, Mikey Graham was not in attendance.

When asked if they had been expecting him, Ronan Keating tells Sky News: “Mikey apologises for not being here today in person for personal reasons. We’ll see him soon, and he will be there on the night.”

He goes on: “We’ll see Mikey in 20 minutes, and he will be there on 6 June”.

It will be the first time the four band members have been back in the same room in nearly seven years, following a five-night run at the London Palladium in 2019.

Keith Duffy admits: “It’s a big moment.”

Shane Lynch, who has been open about previous disagreements with his fellow bandmates, says: “I can’t wait to see Mick. And I’m super excited for him.”

‘We stopped talking to Louis Walsh’

Mention of their former manager is met with less warmth.

When asked if Louis Walsh is involved with the one-off show, Keating says: “No. Louis hasn’t been involved in Boyzone for a very long time, before the documentary, even well before the documentary. We stopped talking to him.

“He’s very much working with Westlife and those things.”

As for whether Walsh will be taking a cut of the profits, all three band members laugh like drains at the suggestion.

Lynch is the first to stop, gathering himself and saying: “Louis, he was the beginning of the band at least, you know, certainly it’s not the end of the band at this point. I love and respect the man by all means. But we have moved on.”

‘Going out on a high’

Indeed, the four Dublin lads are in a very different place 33 years after they were thrust into the limelight as teenagers, with just Graham just a little older than the rest at 21.

Keating clarifies this time, they are the ones calling the shots: “We’re the ones in the driving seat… We’re doing on our terms.”

This time, Keating says it’s a journey he intends to make the most of: “We didn’t get to celebrate the 90s at all. We didn’t get to enjoy our success. Everybody else did, we didn’t. You know, boo hoo, we’re not crying. We had a hell of a time. We’re okay with that… We’re going to go out on a high”.

He’s also adamant this is a one-off: “It’s not gonna go further than the show. This is it.”

Read more: Ronan Keating on boyband fame in the 90s

Of course, Stephen Gately’s untimely death in 2009, as a result of an undiagnosed heart condition, means the full band will never again take to the stage, but Keating, Duffy and Lynch say the show will be a time to remember Gately.

Giving away no details as to how, Keating says: “There will be a moment in the show for Stephen… Getting that right is important.”

With around eight months to prepare, the pressure is now on the band to deliver.

Duffy says: “It’s a big effort to get this kind of show together. It’s been seven years. We didn’t expect it. It’s not like every five to seven years, we always had an idea, we’ll end up seeing each other and sharing the stage together. It was a definite no.”

Boyzone: No Matter What

All three admit the three-part Sky documentary Boyzone: No Matter What, which aired at the start of the year, has played a big role in their change of heart.

And now, with a new chapter ahead of them, could there be a fourth part in the works? Keating is hopeful.

“Wouldn’t it be lovely to have that, closure and that fourth episode? Never say never.

“We haven’t agreed anything, it hasn’t been planned. Yeah, there are cameras around and it’s a decision we’ve made with Curious [the production company who made the documentary] to document this, because it’s a monumental time for us.”

Monumental indeed, and following the recent trend for 90s reunions, the band’s members – no longer boys but in some cases grandfathers – will be hoping fans turn out to show their love, no matter what.

Boyzone will perform at the Emirates Stadium in London on 6 June, with yet to be announced special guests.

Boyzone: No Matter What is available on Sky and streaming service Now