Eurovision 2026: Fake boycotts, the fired cartoonist, and the 'cancelled' contest
Debunking viral claims about the Eurovision 2026 boycott, Martin Rowson, Poland, and more
On December 4, members of the European Broadcasting Union voted to adopt tougher voting rules for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 to be held in Austria’s capital, Vienna.
In a statement, the EBU said that ”This vote means that all EBU Members who wish to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and agree to comply with the new rules are eligible to take part.”
Following the vote, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia confirmed their withdrawal from the competition over Israel’s participation, citing the death toll in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the enclave as the reason.
The vote not only prompted differing views among broadcasters. Social media users took firm positions both in favour and against the decision to allow Israel in, but amid the intense discussion, false and misleading claims began circulating.
Guardian cartoonist was not fired
Following Thursday’s vote, The Guardian cartoonist Martin Rowson published a drawing of Netanyahu holding an Israeli flag over a pile of bodies and debris, the Eurovision sign visible on the front. X users shared the cartoon, with many claiming that The Guardian had fired Rowson just a few hours after the publication.
For example, X parody account @JeffreyxEpstein shared the picture (archived here) with the caption, “The Guardian published a cartoon mocking Israel’s participation in Eurovision. Hours later, the cartoonist was fired.” As of December 9, the post had garnered over 150,000 views.
However, The Guardian has not issued a statement, and there are no records indicating that Rowson was fired.
In April 2023, The Guardian deleted and apologized for one of Rowson’s cartoons after it was accused of antisemitic tropes. In October 2023, The Guardian did not renew the contract with cartoonist Steve Bell over a cartoon that the publication deemed antisemitic, but there is no evidence of anything similar happening to Rowson.
Poland did not cut diplomatic ties with Israel
On December 6, X account @World_Affairs11, which describes itself as a breaking news service and indicates its location as Pakistan, shared a post (archived here) with the caption, “BREAKING: Poland officially cuts all diplomatic relations with Israel vis boycotting Eurovision.” The post was viewed by over 329,000 users in two days.
The claim is false. There is no record of Poland cutting its diplomatic ties with Israel.
Some Polish lawmakers have called for a boycott of Eurovision 2026.
In early November, Polish broadcaster TVP confirmed its participation in the ESC. However, according to Polish news outlet Goniec, following Thursday’s vote, Kamil Kozbuch, deputy head of the corporate affairs office for communications at TVP, said a decision would be made soon.
Confusion over withdrawal announcements
As of December 9, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia are the only countries that have announced their withdrawals following the decision to allow Israel to participate.
However, social media users have been claiming that the countries boycotting the ESC are actually more.
TikTok user @tuavluesc posted a video (archived here) claiming that Belgium was the fifth country to officially withdraw from Eurovision.
Another TikTok video (archived here) posted by @rohansweetnessbla claimed instead that Iceland was the fifth country to join the boycott. X user @mehmetcakir_61, (archived here) also listed Poland among the official withdrawals.
TikTok user @eurovision_editsss published a video (archived here) claiming Armenia had released an official statement announcing its boycott over Israel’s participation.
Eurovision is not cancelled
Social media users also advanced misleading claims announcing that the Eurovision 2026 was officially cancelled.
For example, TikTok user @killjoy.co.why posted a video (archived here) with the caption “esc is cancelled ts year :(“.
Although four countries announced their withdrawal from the competition, the ESC is still scheduled to take place in May 2026, in Vienna, as originally planned.
Following the rule vote on December 4, the EBU wrote, “A large majority of Members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place.”
SOURCES
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: The Guardian published a cartoon mocking Israel’s [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: BREAKING: Poland officially cuts all diplomatic relations [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
X (formerly Twitter). (2025). Available at: Israil’in 2026 Eurovision Şarkı Yarışması’na [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Tiktok.com. (2017). TikTok - Make Your Day Available at: they cancelled it [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Tiktok.com. (2025). TikTok - Make Your Day Available at: esc is cancelled ts year [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Tiktok.com. (2025). TikTok - Make Your Day Available at: 5 countries in 20 Minutes [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Tiktok.com. (2025). TikTok - Make Your Day Available at: Eurovision 2026 [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Tiktok.com. (2025). TikTok - Make Your Day Available at: Several countries have withdrawn [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Tiktok.com. (2025). TikTok - Make Your Day Available at: Official announcement in comments [Accessed 9 Dec. 2025].
Polish (2025). Available at: Polish lawmakers call for Eurovision boycott over Israel’s participation. [online] Aa.com.tr. [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Siemion, D. (2025). Available at: PILNE, TYLKO U NAS: Jest oficjalne stanowisko TVP ws. udziału Polski w Eurowizji. Padła konkretna data. [online] Goniec.pl. [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
RTÉ Entertainment (2025). RTÉ to boycott Eurovision Song Contest over Israel. RTE.ie. [online] [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
RTVE.es (2025). España no participará en Eurovisión 2026 por la participación de Israel: preguntas y respuestas. RTVE.es. [online] [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Avrotros.nl. (2025). Available at: AVROTROS neemt in 2026 niet deel aan het Eurovisie Songfestival. [online] [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
RTV Slovenija (2025). Available at: Radio Si. [online] [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Rowson, M. (2025). Available at: Martin Rowson on Israel’s participation in Eurovision – cartoon. [online] the Guardian. [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Saunders, E. (2023). Available at: Steve Bell sacked by Guardian in antisemitism row over Netanyahu cartoon. [online] Bbc.com. [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Union, B. (2025). Available at: EBU Members show clear support for reforms to reinforce trust and protect neutrality of Eurovision Song Contest, allowing all Members to participate. [online] Www.ebu.ch. [Accessed 8 Dec. 2025].
Kanter, J. (2023). Available at: The Guardian Deletes ‘Anti-Semitic’ Cartoon Of BBC’s Richard Sharp. [online] Deadline. [Accessed 9 Dec. 2025].
Ribbans, E. (2023). Available at: An image that should never have been published, and lessons that must be learned. [online] the Guardian. [Accessed 9 Dec. 2025].