Three members of RAI’s board of directors have urged Italy to announce its withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to compete.
Calls from within RAI
According to reports from Il Fatto Quotidiano, board members Alessandro di Majo, Davide Di Pietro and Roberto Natale issued a joint statement on Tuesday. They argued that Italy’s participation “without any form of dissent or symbolic signal” could be interpreted as silent approval of the ongoing conflict.
The three directors called on RAI to follow the example of broadcasters from Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and Spain, all of which have pledged to withdraw if Israel remains in the competition.
A matter of values, say directors
In their statement, the RAI board members stressed that Eurovision is founded on values of peace, inclusion and respect. They noted that the EBU previously excluded Belarus and Russia for violating those principles, and argued that Italy should take a consistent stance.
They added that announcing a withdrawal now would “send a concrete sign of solidarity” and increase pressure on Israel, potentially encouraging change before next May’s contest in Vienna.
Political support
The appeal has already gained backing in Italian politics. Senator Peppe De Cristofaro, leader of the Green and Left Alliance and a member of the RAI oversight committee, said he agreed with the directors’ position. He called it “a concrete gesture” in response to both the violence in Gaza and the large demonstrations in Italy in support of Palestine.
Earlier reports remain unconfirmed
In recent days, outlets such as De Telegraaf reported that Italy, along with Germany, might support Israel’s presence at Eurovision and could withdraw if Israel were excluded. However, RAI has made no official statement on this matter, and there is no confirmation that the broadcaster intends to link its participation to Israel’s status.
Italy’s Eurovision journey
Italy has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since the very beginning and have always been considered a powerhouse in the contest. The country has won the contest on three occasions in 1964, 1990 and 2021. Italy withdrew after 1997, returning again in 2011 with Raphael Gualazzi who sang ‘Madness Of Love’. Raphael placed second in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest after scoring 189 points.
Italy’s most recent entry in 2025 was “Volevo essere un duro” by Lucio Corsi. At the close of voting, Italy scored a total of 256 points in the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final, placing 5th. Of these, 159 points came from the juries, whilst the remaining 97 points came from the televote.
What do you make of the calls from RAI’s directors? Will Italy follow through with its withdrawal? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
News Source: Il Fatto Quotidiano
Photo Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
Giwrgos Oiko