The Culture Minister for Poland has spoken: If Israel participates in Eurovision 2026, then Poland should withdraw.
Poland’s Culture Minister Marta Cienkowska has said that the country should withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to participate. Speaking to the Polish radio station TOK FM, Cienkowska made it clear that her remarks were a personal stance and not a formal government decision.
Nevertheless, her statement has sent shockwaves through the Eurovision community, positioning Poland as the latest country potentially considering a boycott, joining Spain and other European nations over the ongoing war in Gaza.
Cienkowska said: “I would very much like this not to be an event that becomes political, but I will give my personal opinion, not as a minister, but as a person.”
“I believe we should not take part in Eurovision if Israel participates,” she said, adding that she was watching the developments in the region “with a very heavy heart.”
Poland’s withdrawal would mark a significant development, and it follows in the wake of Spain’s decision to do the same last week. Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE was the first of the “Big Five” countries—those with automatic qualification to the final—to make such a bold move. Other countries, including Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands, have also indicated they will pull out if Israel remains in the contest.
As the situation develops, all eyes are on Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. How will the EBU respond? How will the contest proceed amid the rising divisions?
Delegations and countries are realizing more than ever that apart from the atrocities, you know who also ruins the contest by getting political votes from people who don’t even care about ESC and by influencing the televoting, which lowers their chances of doing good in the contest.
After the mass recognitions of the State of Palestine and the stance by important high-paying countries like Spain and the Netherlands, it would be a madness for the EBU to keep Israel and would signify the end of the contest.
Kind of a non-event since she has no say in the matter and she emphasised it’s just her personal opinion anyway.
Hope we withdraw from this freak show.
I think it’s a bit of an exaggeration to say her words sent shockwaves through the Eurovision community. This is the new norm. I hope.
We’ll, yeah. It Poland after all… ?
Genuinely surprised by that announcement of I’m honest. Poland historically has been very pro-Israel/Zionist.
and to be honest they weren’t on my radar for countries possibly boycotting.
let’s see what TVP says but I very much welcome this
it’s not a question of being pro or unbiased towards a certain country for historical reasons. I read that their relations have soured and in fact they didn’t have diplomatic relations before the Soviet Union collapsed so there.
I wasn’t aware that relations between Israel and Poland have soured recently. I wouldn’t have thought so
Poland was among the firstr european countries to recognise Palestina ???
Under the communist regime they did yes, because all of the other Warsaw Pact countries were doing it too, to annoy the west.
but Poland has been among the most vocally pro-Israel in the past. A lot of Israelis actually come from Poland including Bibi himself
I just love how you are ignoring Croatia and news about Dora and confirmation of Croatian participation.