Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green has released an open letter addressed to fans, following days of debate and uncertainty around the 2026 season.
Martin Green’s full message
“Dear Fans,
I know that many of you will be feeling strong emotions at this time. I certainly am, which is why I wanted to write directly to you.
I also know you feel strongly about events in the Middle East and how those realities connect to the Eurovision Song Contest. No one can fail to be moved by what we have seen in the region in the past few years. Some of you have written to us, spoken out, or expressed anger and pain at what they see as silence in the face of tragedy. I want to say that we hear you. We understand why you feel so strongly and that we care too.
The Eurovision Song Contest was born 70 years ago — in a divided and fractured Europe — as a symbol of unity, peace, and hope through music. Those foundations have not changed and neither has the Contest’s purpose.
We know many fans want us to take a defined position on geopolitical events. But the only way the Eurovision Song Contest can continue to bring people together is by ensuring we are guided by our rules first and foremost.
As we look to next year, we will ensure that all participating broadcasters respect the rules of the competition and if they don’t you have a personal pledge from me, we will not tolerate it and call it out.
When faced with a divided world, the Eurovision Song Contest has the privileged role to offer a space where millions can celebrate what connects us. A space where music takes centre stage. A space that welcomes everyone — whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever your views are about the world around us.
I want to say specifically to fans in Ireland, Spain, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands that your broadcasters made a decision that was right for them. We respect their position and decision. We will continue to work with them in the hope they return to the Contest soon.
Our artists, our delegations, and importantly our fans — each one of you — are the heart of this Contest.
We are committed to doing everything we can so that, for another 70 years and beyond, the Eurovision Song Contest continues to be a place where friendships are forged, languages are learned, and new genres and artists are discovered.
In a challenging world we can indeed be United by Music.
With love and gratitude,
Martin Green CBE
Director, Eurovision Song Contest”
His message comes just days after the organisation confirmed Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, a decision that led Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland to withdraw from next year’s edition.
Yesterday, the EBU also released a statement defending the conduct of its General Assembly and calling recent criticism “completely inaccurate and ill-informed”.
RTVE president José Pablo López responds
Shortly after the letter was published, RTVE president José Pablo López shared it on X with a strong response.
“Today Martin Green has addressed the public in a letter.
He does so with the Festival in flames, five countries withdrawn, artists refusing to take part in national selections, major Festival stars speaking out against Israel’s participation, and the biggest reputational crisis in the EBU’s history.
Green does not mention Gaza or Israel — he does not call things by their name.
They are ‘events’ that have happened in the Middle East. Is a genocide an ‘event’? Nothing more? He says he listens to fans. That is all.Now we are told that rules will be respected from now on. And the breaches of the last two years? Forgotten? Are rules applied depending on the EBU’s geopolitical and economic alliances?
And he also says that the only way the Festival can unite people is by being guided by its rules.
It takes courage to say this after Israel claimed on the same night of the vote that it had politically influenced delegations to remain in Eurovision.
What more do we need to see?”
The story of Eurovision 2026 so far
The journey to the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest kicked off immediately following JJ’s win in Basel, when Austria’s ORF accepted the rights to host the 70th edition of the contest. The bidding process started in June, with interested cities having until July 4 to submit their bid book. Innsbruck and Vienna were shortlisted, with the latter winning the right to host next year’s contest.
As for the organisation of the competition, the ‘core team‘ was revealed in June 2025, with further details about next year’s competition to be revealed in due course. The shows will take place on May 12th, 14th and 16th.
What do you think of Martin Green’s letter? What about RTVE’s president response? 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: EBU, José Pablo López / X
Photo credit: Robin Lorentz Allard
Giwrgos Oiko 
Rory Gannon