Protest scheduled outside CyBC regarding Israel's participation in Eurovision 2026

A coalition of civil society organizations, including United for Palestine Nicosia and BDS Cyprus, has scheduled a protest outside the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) headquarters in Aglantzia. The demonstration is set for May 12 or 13, 2026, coinciding with the Eurovision 2026 semi-finals in Vienna. The organizers are demanding that CyBC pressure the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to review the eligibility of the Israeli public broadcaster, KAN. Specifically, the groups request that CyBC advocate for a formal evaluation based on the precedent set during Russia's exclusion in 2022. The coalition further demands transparency regarding the CyBC's role within the EBU and clarification on the application of the competition's 'apolitical' status. The groups involved, which include organizations such as Genocide Free Cyprus and Queer Collective, argue that participation serves to normalize current military actions. While the Greek-language text references a protest on May 12, the English-language reports suggest the demonstration corresponds with the performance of the Israeli candidate in Vienna on May 13.