RTV Slovenija has officially confirmed that Slovenia will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel remains in the competition.
RTV Slovenija issues official statement
In a statement published on September 27, the broadcaster reaffirmed its commitment to Eurovision’s founding principles:
“Eurovision is a project of peace, equality and respect among nations. RTV Slovenija confirms that if Israel remains a participating country, we will not take part in next year’s competition, as the principles of public service broadcasting are incompatible with human suffering, the suppression of free media, and the misuse of cultural events for political purposes, which we have witnessed in recent years.”
Decision expected in November
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will decide in November whether Israel will be allowed to compete in Vienna next May. RTV Slovenija expressed doubts that Israel’s participation aligns with Eurovision’s values given the situation in Gaza and restrictions on independent journalism.
If Israel is excluded, Slovenia says it would be ready to rejoin the competition.
Slovenia joins Ireland, Iceland, Netherlands and Spain, which have also confirmed that they will withdraw if Israel competes in 2026.
Slovenia’s Eurovision Journey
In 1993, Slovenia made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest with 1X Band and the song “Tih deževen dan”, which placed 22nd. Since their debut, they have participated 28 times – of which, 16 were where they qualified for the Grand Final.
Slovenia’s recent Eurovision participation saw them being represented by Klemen, who sang “How Much Time Do We Have Left”. Performing at the first semi-final, Klemen failed to qualify, placing thirteenth with 23 points from the televote.
What do you think of RTV Slovenija’s decision? 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!
Source: RTV SLO
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson / EBU
Giwrgos Oiko 
Michelle