Campaign urges Malta to withdraw from Eurovision over Israel’s participation

A coalition of Palestine solidarity groups and arts organisations has launched a campaign calling on Malta to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to participate, arguing that taking part would amount to normalising genocide in Gaza.

The campaign, titled ‘Malta: No Music for Genocide’, is urging both the Maltese government and Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) to pull out of the competition, following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel to compete.

The initiative is backed by several organisations, including the Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA), Moviment Graffitti, Ġustizzja għall-Palestina, The Lebanese Advocates and The Watermelon Warriors.

In a statement, the groups argued that cultural events such as Eurovision are inherently political, pointing to Russia’s exclusion from the contest after its invasion of Ukraine. They said that allowing Israel to compete while military operations continue in Gaza sends a message of impunity and contributes to what they described as the “whitewashing” of mass violence against civilians.

The campaign said that more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed over the past two years and that Palestinians continue to face displacement and violence in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as Israeli military actions in neighbouring countries. It also said that Israel has increased its investment in Eurovision participation as part of a broader political strategy.

The groups said Malta’s continued participation in the contest would contradict its official recognition of the State of Palestine and its stated commitment to human rights and international law. They called on Malta to follow the example of other countries they said are considering or supporting withdrawal, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland.

As part of the campaign, organisers are also appealing to artists, cultural workers and civil society organisations to publicly endorse the initiative by signing an online form or contacting the campaign directly.

The organisers said further actions would be announced in the coming days, framing the issue as a choice between cultural participation and political solidarity with Palestinians.