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Eurovision 2026: Slovenia Says It Will Not Compete If Israel Returns For Next Year’s Event

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The controversy around Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest continues to escalate, as one participating country has now said it will not return to the contest unless the Israeli delegation is not invited next year.

Earlier this year, discussions took place among Eurovision’s participating broadcasters about whether Israel should remain part of the contest despite the ongoing war in Gaza, with the situation due to be reassessed in the autumn.

The Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO has now said it will only return to Eurovision next year if Israel is banned, similarly to how Russia has not been invited to take part in the competition since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Slovenian singer Klemen rehearsing for this year's Eurovision Song Contest
Slovenian singer Klemen rehearsing for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest

via Associated Press

RTVSLO’s communication department has now issued a statement, translated by the fansite ESC Today, which said that its decision about whether to return to Eurovision would be made imminently.

“By this time, it should be clear whether the EBU will make any decision regarding Israel’s participation and whether it will take into account the comments of several EBU member states regarding the transparency of voting,” they said. “At that time, it will be clear whether [we still want] to participate in this competition.

“At the EBU General Assembly, which was held in London at the beginning of July, RTV Slovenia presented its position that if Israel were to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest – due to the genocide in Gaza – it would not participate in the competition.”

“The EBU is currently holding talks with its members regarding Israel’s possible participation in the future competition,” they concluded.

HuffPost UK has contacted the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for comment.

Austrian performer JJ won Eurovision this year, and has since called for Israel's expulsion from the contest
Austrian performer JJ won Eurovision this year, and has since called for Israel’s expulsion from the contest

via Associated Press

Meanwhile, back in July, it was reported by Israel’s N12 News (as cited by The National) that the national broadcasters for Germany and Italy had threatened to pull out of Eurovision if Israel was not permitted to return to the event in 2026.

A spokesperson for Germany’s Südwestrundfunk (SWR) later told HuffPost UK: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a major musical event that has brought people across Europe and beyond together for decades – diverse and respectful, regardless of origin, religion, or belief.

“The ESC is a music competition organised by EBU broadcasters, not governments. The Israeli broadcaster KAN adheres to applicable regulations and has been an integral part of the music competition for more than 60 years. We affirm their membership and the core values of the ESC.

“We welcome the process initiated by EBU Director General Noel Curran. A former senior TV executive will engage in a structured, open dialogue with the members over the coming months to explore various perspectives and identify courses of action. The goal should be a well-founded and sustainable solution in line with the EBU’s values.”

The EBU previously said: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East. The EBU is not immune to global events but, together with our members, it is our role to ensure the Contest remains – at its heart – a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music.

“We all aspire to keep the Eurovision Song Contest positive and inclusive and aspire to show the world as it could be, rather than how it necessarily is.”

“As a reminder, the EBU is an association of public service broadcasters, not governments, who are all eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest every year if they meet the requisite requirements,” they added. “It is not our role to make comparisons between conflicts.”

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Sabrina Carpenter Reveals How Barry Keoghan Split Influenced Her New Album

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Sabrina Carpenter has revealed how her public break-up inspired her latest album Man’s Best Friend.

In early 2024, it was revealed that the Grammy winner was dating the actor Barry Keoghan, until it was reported towards the end of last year that they had parted ways.

During a new interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Sabrina spoke cryptically about the “intention” behind her latest release, while alluding to her recent split.

“I think I came out of a sad situation, a lot less bitter than I intended or expected to,” the Espresso singer began. “With a little bit more of the like, ‘you know what? There’s two people involved and this is part of growing up’.”

She continued: “I don’t want to be enemies with people that I loved. I loved them. I think obviously it depends on what happens and what goes down and how much you feel like you can truly trust that person.

“But I feel like it is one of those situations where even the album starting with ‘Oh, boy’ was sort of an eye roll to yourself being like, ‘here we go again’. And I think that that’s something that feels very reflective of this time in my life where you don’t really have a lot of time to sort of mope and weep.

“You kind of just got to get back out there – not even in a dating way, not even in a romantic way – just get back out there in terms of, if you’re staying inside and you’re thinking about how everything’s going wrong, everything’s going to go wrong and you’re going to be inside. But a lot of life is truly happening out there.

“So it’s that switching on that mindset of being like, ‘you know what? Just because you deal with something that’s difficult and maybe really hurts you, doesn’t mean that you’re damaged, doesn’t mean you can’t do it again, doesn’t mean you can’t open yourself up’. And I think this one was a newer heartbreak experience for me.”

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Sabrina’s fans immediately thought of the Saltburn star earlier this year when it was announced that the lead single from Man’s Best Friend would be titled Manchild (which went on to become her fourth UK number one single).

During an interview which aired on CBS Mornings last week, anchor Gayle King brought up the online “backlash” that Barry had been subjected to because of Sabrina’s “very loyal” fans, to which she responded: “Correct.”

“You know what’s funny? I feel pretty transparent going into any of my relationships, that I write songs. And I think they’re just as down for it,” she insisted, when asked if she felt bad for the online abuse levelled at her ex.

“I think also most of the time, [my exes have been] pretty flattered when they get a song written about them, good or bad.”

Sabrina then insisted: “I think they’re just excited to get a shout-out. I’m not scared of men in that sense. I am scared of men sometimes, but I’m not scared in that sense.

“I think I will attract exactly who I’m supposed to attract.”

During their relationship, Sabrina and Barry made several public appearances together, including when he co-starred in her Please Please Please music video.

In the days after their split was made public, the Oscar-nominated actor announced he was taking a step back from social media due to hateful comments that were being posted on his accounts, specifically about his appearance, upbringing and skills as a father.

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