Pro-Palestinian Activists Plan ‘Alternative Eurovision’ in Belgium, Protesting Israel’s Participation in Song Contest

Several Belgian organizations are co-hosting their own singing competition in Brussels in solidarity with Palestinians and in protest of Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) taking place in Vienna, Austria, in May.

The “United for Palestine” singing competition is being marketed on its website as the “alternative Eurovision Song Contest” and will take place in the concert hall La Madeleine on May 12. That same day, Noam Bettan, Israel’s representative in the ESC this year, will perform his new song “Michelle” in the first semi-finals of the Eurovision.

The pro-Palestinian singing contest will feature several Belgian artists and past Eurovision contestants, including Belgium’s former representatives Gustaph and Geike Arnaert. Palestinian artists will also perform, including Nia Barghouti.

The organizers are protesting against the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the Eurovision, and its decision to allow Israel to compete in the ESC. The anti-Israel activists want the Jewish state to be excluded from the competition because of its military actions against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip — a conflict that began with the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

“The Eurovision Song Contest profiles itself as apolitical and connecting. But culture is never separate from reality … And yet Israel will have an international stage,” organizers wrote on the event’s website. “That is not a neutral choice. A decision with consequences. The stage becomes a message that normalizes violence and exposes millions of viewers to Israeli propaganda … We refuse double standards. We refuse business as usual.”

Organizers of the “United for Palestine” competition also launched a petition that calls for Israel to be banned from the ESC this year, and for all public broadcasters and Belgian representatives not to participate and broadcast in the contest.

“While Israel in Palestine is mass killing civilians, blocking humanitarian aid, and tramping on international law, the country gets a place on the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest,” the petition said in part. “That is unacceptable. We refuse to watch.”

The event is an initiative of the organizations 11.11.11 and Intal, the unions ABVV-FGTB and ACV-CSC, and the charities SOS Gaza and Vrede vzw.

Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands have already withdrawn from the ESC in protest of Israel’s participation. Sweden’s representative in the Eurovision this year, Felicia, has publicly called for Israel to be banned from the 2026 competition. In response, the EBU issued a statement reminding all ESC contestants that they must maintain a stance of neutrality, according to the rules of the competition.

“The EBU supports the right to freedom of expression; however, the Eurovision Song Contest operates under rules that ensure neutrality and an environment of mutual respect,” the EBU stated. “Participants cannot use Eurovision as a political stage or create controversies that may divert attention away from the music.”

“The Code of Conduct and Duty of Care protocol, developed by the union’s members, clearly state that participants ‘must not exploit the Eurovision Song Contest’ or use the event ‘as a tool of pressure through political statements or by creating controversies, thereby diverting attention from the purpose of the event, which is the celebration of music and the promotion of unity,'” the union further stated. “The code also emphasizes that mutual respect between artists is essential.”