Seventeen Portuguese musicians refuse to represent Portugal in Eurovision
In a statement, the musicians cited Israel’s controversial participation as the reason for their boycott. “With words and with songs, we act within the possibilities we are given. We do not accept complicity with the violation of Human Rights,” they said. The statement added: “Despite Russia’s ban from Eurovision 2022 for political reasons, we were surprised to see that the same stance was not taken towards Israel, which, according to the United Nations, is committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.”
Portugal’s public broadcaster RTP responded that it will continue to organize Festival da Canção and reaffirmed the country’s participation in Eurovision 2026, regardless of the artists’ decision.
Salvador Sobral, Portugal’s only Eurovision winner, criticized RTP’s position in a social media video, accusing the broadcaster of “political cowardice.”
Public backlash has intensified in Portugal, with a petition calling for an immediate national withdrawal from Eurovision gathering over 22,000 signatures. The petition argues that RTP’s support for Israel’s participation “puts Portugal on the wrong side of history” and condemns the decision amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and controversies over vote rigging during the 2025 contest in Basel, highlighting the event’s susceptibility to politicization.
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