🇦🇿 Road to Malmö: Azerbaijan

It’s Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and time for another weekly update! This week, debates over Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 intensified, as several broadcasters take a stand. We also have news about a potential new country joining Eurovision, plus a flurry of national selection updates. With 2026 fast approaching, broadcasters across Europe are unveiling their plans and contestants. Here are this week’s top stories: Israel 🇮🇸 Iceland: RÚV Board Wants Israel Barred The board of Icelandic broadcaster RÚV has formally called on the EBU to ban Israel from Eurovision 2026. At a recent meeting, 5 of 9 RÚV board members approved a recommendation urging Israel’s exclusion. Chairman Stefán Jón Hafstein noted that the EBU General Assembly on December 4–5 will discuss Israel’s participation. RÚV is even weighing Iceland’s withdrawal if Israel is allowed to compete, pending the EBU’s decision. A final call on Iceland’s own participation will be made after that EBU meeting. source: RÚV 🇸🇮 Slovenia: Will Only Participate if Israel Excluded Slovenia’s broadcaster RTVSLO has signaled it won’t take part in Eurovision 2026 unless Israel is out. A draft of RTVSLO’s 2026 programming plan made no mention of Eurovision, fueling withdrawal speculation. Now RTVSLO board president Natalija Gorščak clarifies that Slovenia will compete only if Israel does not. If the EBU votes to exclude Israel at next week’s assembly, RTVSLO will amend its plan and join the contest. Otherwise, Slovenia is prepared to sit out. RTVSLO joins broadcasters from Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain in this stance. source: RTVSLO 🇪🇸 Spain: RTVE Reaffirms Israel Boycott Threat Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has doubled down on its position regarding Israel. RTVE President José Pablo López told parliament that Spain will withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates, a stance maintained for months. He stated Israel’s presence is “untenable,” citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and argued that Israel has broken contest rules without punishment. Spain’s culture minister echoed this, revealing Spain formally requested Israel’s exclusion. RTVE’s message is clear: unless the EBU expels Israel, Spain will not compete. source: eurovision-spain 2026 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan: Debut to be Decided in Early 2026 Is Kazakhstan finally joining Eurovision? The Kazakh Ministry of Culture says the EBU will consider Kazakhstan’s debut in early 2026. Over the summer, Kazakh broadcaster Khabar Agency met with EBU’s Director General to discuss this possibility. No decision has been made yet, but the EBU is expected to revisit the issue after New Year’s. One major hurdle is funding. The Ministry noted that participating would require significant financial resources, and no budget is currently approved for it. For now, Kazakhstan remains hopeful, awaiting the EBU’s verdict on whether it can join the Eurovision family in Vienna. source: esc-kaz National Finals and Selections 🇱🇻 Latvia: 24 Supernova 2026 Semi-Finalists Unveiled Latvian broadcaster LTV has revealed the 24 artists and songs competing in Supernova 2026, Latvia’s national selection. The semi-finalists were selected from 124 submissions and will be split across two heats before a February 14 final. The full lineup is: Agnesse – “Oh My My” Aivo Oskis – “Walking Out” Antra Stafecka – “Divejāda” Atvara – “Ēnā” Blurie – “Lovin’ Always Gets Me Down” Daba – “Panic Attack” De Mantra – “Let Them” Edvards Strazdiņš – “I Ain’t Got The Guts” ELPO – “Blakus” Emilija – “All We Ever Had” Honey Blue – “Blue Disco” Ivo Grīsniņš Grīslis – “Home” Jānis Rugājs – “Smoke” Kautkaili – “Te un tagad” Krisy – “Take It” Kristīne Meģija – “Insanity” LEGZDINA – “Ribbon” Miks Galvanovskis – “Cruel Angel” NOLARK – “Different Places” Papīra lidmašīnas – “You’re My Saviour” PAULA – “Dejot vien” Robert Ox – “Ravin’ At The Taj Mahal” Tikasha Sakama – “#010126 CODA” Vēstnieks – “Vai tas ir kāds brīnums?” If there is a link, the song is already published on YouTube. 🇲🇪 Montenegro: 15 Songs Out for MonteSong 2025 Montenegro’s national broadcaster RTCG has released all 15 entries for MonteSong 2025, its selection for Eurovision 2026. The songs are available on the RTCG website, and the national final will take place on December 21. The MonteSong 2025 participants are: Andrea Demirović – “I Believe” Baryak – “Minerva” Dolce Hera – “Casanova 91” Đurđa – “Dominos” Krstinja Matanović – “Oli oli” Lana Lopičić – “Doline” (Valleys) Lana Vukčević & Đorđe Savković – “Temperatura” (Temperature) Lara Baltic – “Rhythm Boy” Luka Radović – “Pjevaj vilo” (Sing, fairy) Majda Božović – “Ipak smo ljudi” (We are human after all) Mila Nikić – “Kao varnica” (Like a spark) Neno Murić – “Ako čuješ glas” (If you hear a voice) Stefan Vukotić – “Nedekodirana” (Undecoded) Tamara Živković – “Nova zora” (New dawn) Tina Džankić – “Shadows” 🇲🇹 Malta: MESC 2026 Semi-Finalists Revealed PBS, the Maltese broadcaster, has announced the 18 artists for the Malta Eurovision Song Contest (MESC) 2026. These acts will compete in a single semi-final on January 15, hoping to reach the final on January 17. Snippets of all the songs are online. You can listen to them here. The MESC 2026 lineup is: Franklin Calleja – “Guide You Home” Chess Galea – “Shout It Out” Liston Bongailas – “Mela” Kurt Anthony – “On the Borderline” Stefan Galea – “Pose” Ema – “Achikuku (Don’t Think About It)” Kelsey Attard – “Perfectly Broken” Adria Twins – “Nerġà nqum” Kelsie Borg – “Let a Girl Breathe” Matthew Cilia – “Brutality Mentality” Matt Blxck – “Ejja lejja ħdejja ’l hawn” Rhiannon Micallef – “Hold Myself Up” Mychael Bartolo Chircop – “My Sweet Angel” Aidan – “Bella” Denise – “Trophy” Nathan Psaila – “Ganador” Mark Anthony Bartolo – “Mumenti sbieħ” Janice Mangion – “Univers” 🇦🇱 Albania: Festivali i Këngës 64 Songs Released Albanian broadcaster RTSH has released the 28 entries competing in Festivali i Këngës 64, which will determine Albania’s Eurovision 2026 act. The contest will be held December 17–20 in Tirana. This year’s FiK features a diverse mix of new and returning artists. The full list of participating acts and song titles is: 2Farm – “Valle mbi hi” Alis – “Nân” Endri Kaçaçi – “Si unë”