Select a language
Is there too much politics in Eurovision? The 2026 edition of the European Song Contest came to a close in Vienna on 16 May. Bulgarian singer DARA took the top spot thanks to the popular vote, followed by Israel and Romania, who came second and third respectively, out of 24 total participants.
The pan-European extravaganza of kitsch continues to draw millions of viewers, even if the numbers are falling. This year, however, it faced unprecedented opposition due to the participation of Israel, with many arguing that the war in Gaza and the Netanyahu government’s rapid rightward drift merit Israel’s exclusion from the contest.
A boycott of the contest by five European countries; a refusal by some broadcasters to air it; controversy following comments by the Israeli broadcaster KAN; statements by political leaders such as Israeli President Isaac Herzog and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in defence of Israel’s participation; exceptional security measures deployed in Vienna to manage thousands of protesters… Eurovision is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain its “apolitical” stance.
And yet the contest’s commitment to neutrality has been broken in the past: when Belarus was excluded in 2021 in the wake of the anti-Lukashenko protests, then Russia in 2022, or Ukraine’s victory in the same year.
In Bulgaria, DARA’s victory was greeted with enthusiasm. The country is now set to host next year’s contest, which has, over time, become a “safe space” for queer communities in Europe (and beyond) thanks to its unapologetically camp aesthetic, and the freedom of expression granted to LGBT+ performers. In a Bulgaria still marked by conservative mores, the 2027 edition of the contest could serve as a rallying cry—not so apolitical, after all.
Do you like our work?
Help multilingual European journalism to thrive, without ads or paywalls. Your one-off or regular support will keep our newsroom independent. Thank you!
