Eurovision 2026 viewership declines following boycotts

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest reached 131 million viewers, marking a decrease of 35 million compared to the previous year. The EBU reported that five countries—the Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia—withdrew from the competition in protest of Israel's participation. Notably, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia declined to broadcast the event entirely. Significant viewership drops were recorded in Poland, Britain, and France. Despite the decrease in television broadcast figures, organizers noted that the event generated over one billion views on Instagram. Bulgaria won the competition for the first time with the song 'Bangaranga' by Dara, while Israel placed second. EBU director Martin Green expressed hope for the return of the boycotting nations by 2027.