More than three-quarters of Britons believe that Israel should not be allowed to participate in the next Eurovision Song Contest, according to a new UK survey.
The poll, conducted this week, found the majority of respondents also wanted the UK to withdraw from the song contest if Israel is allowed to compete in Vienna in 2026.
An overwhelming majority of 82 per cent of respondents said Israel should not be allowed to take part, and a further 69 per cent believe the UK should withdraw if Israel does take part in the song contest.
The findings come as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed its 68 members would vote in November on whether to exclude Israel from the next song contest amid mounting concerns over its brutal military campaign in Gaza.
Israel has killed at least 65,000 Palestinians in the last 23 months, and many European countries have threatened to boycott the music event over Israel’s ongoing participation.
Spain and Ireland have already confirmed plans to boycott the upcoming Austrian event, while Belgium, Norway and Finland are also reportedly considering their positions on the issue.
“The genocide currently taking place make[s] it impossible for us to look the other way,” said the head of Spain’s state broadcaster.
BBC director general Tim Davie also said last week that the broadcaster is "aware of the concerns" but that the contest has "never been about politics".
The recent survey, commissioned by senior political advisor and campaign strategist Pablo O’Hana, was conducted by Find Out Now this week among 1093 nationally representative respondents.
Among the survey respondents, voters of every political party except for Reform UK expressed support for withdrawal from the competition.
Some 80 per cent of Eurovision fans surveyed also believed that banning Russia from the song content, but not Israel, is inconsistent. The country was excluded by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in 2022 from taking part in the contest just one day after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The findings of this week’s poll will likely add further pressure to the BBC after it was recently asked about its position, amid reports some broadcasters are considering pulling out.
After winning the show this year, Eurovision winner JJ also called for Israel to be excluded from the upcoming contest, and it came amid allegations of “rigging” that left Israel in second place.
Mr O’Hana added that the British public can see the double standards amid the Eurovision Song Contest and called on the BBC to “get a backbone and listen” to the UK public.
“Eurovision was born from the rubble of the Second World War to unite a fractured continent through music. For nearly 70 years, it has done just that – evolving into one of the world’s most successful peace projects, pulling in hundreds of millions of people and discovering some of the greatest artists of all time,” he said.
“The EBU were right to exclude Russia after its unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, and I was so proud of my country when we hosted in Liverpool on behalf of our neighbours under siege. It was Britain at its best and Eurovision at its finest.”
The political analyst, and staunch Eurovision fan, said that refusing to do the same with Israel “is forcing members to take a stand or face a credibility crisis.”
He continued: “The British public can see that double standard – and they want the UK to stand with our allies like Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands in walking away.
“The United Kingdom has a long and proud history of standing up for what is right. We are at our best when we act as the moral compass for the world, never flinching in the face of aggression – whether that was Hitler in the past or Putin today.
“Yet on Eurovision, we are increasingly isolated and failing to show the same principle, consistency and leadership.
“The UK’s participation in Eurovision 2026 without any meaningful dissent could be seen as an endorsement of Israel’s actions in Palestine. That is not who we are.
“The BBC is the public’s broadcaster. It exists to serve the people who fund it – and these findings show exactly where the public stand.
“Eurovision isn’t just about songs and staging – it’s about values. If Israel is permitted to compete, the people of Britain believe we should walk away. The BBC must get a backbone and listen.”
