Protests held outside CyBC against Israel's participation in Eurovision 2026

On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, various activist groups, including 'United for Palestine Nicosia', held a protest outside the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) headquarters in Aglantzia. The demonstrators demanded that the broadcaster pressure the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to review Israel’s eligibility to compete in Eurovision 2026. The organizers cited the 2022 precedent regarding Russia, arguing that Israel’s participation in the context of the war in Gaza damages the reputation of the contest. A previous letter outlining these demands was submitted by several civil society organizations on April 5, 2026. CyBC Director General Thanasis Tsokos responded that the contest is a cultural event that should be protected from political disputes, which he noted are resolved in other forums. Simultaneous protests took place in Vienna, the host city for this year's competition. According to CyBC radio, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia are boycotting the event due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.