23.09.2025 12:20
Azerbaijan has announced that it will participate in Eurovision 2026, despite the boycott decision taken by countries in response to Israel's participation. The spokesperson for the delegation, Turab Teymurov, stated, "We do not interfere in politics." Azerbaijan's decision to give 12 points to Israel in 2025 had drawn criticism.
Due to the massacres happening in Gaza, Slovenia, Spain, Iceland, Ireland, and the Netherlands announced that they would not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel takes part. Following this development, attention turned to the stance of the brother country Azerbaijan.
"OUR PARTICIPATION IS NOT DEPENDENT ON POLITICS"
The media spokesperson for Azerbaijan's Eurovision delegation, Turab Teymurov, stated in a related announcement, "Our participation is not dependent on whether any country participates in the contest or not. We do not interfere in politics," announcing that they would participate in the competition in Vienna.
HAD GIVEN 12 POINTS TO ISRAEL IN 2025
Azerbaijan had given 12 points to Israel in the jury voting at the contest held in Basel, Switzerland, in 2025. This decision was met with surprise and reaction, especially in Turkey.
HAD COME IN SECOND
Last year, Israeli representative Yuval Raphael came in second with a total of 357 points, receiving 60 points from the jury votes and 297 points from the public votes for his song "New Day Will Rise." Raphael was protested with whistles by audience members who displayed the Palestinian flag on stage, and two individuals who attempted to jump on stage were subdued by security teams.
EUROVISION 2026 IN VIENNA
The Eurovision 2026 semi-finals will be held on May 12 and 14, with the grand final taking place on May 16 in Vienna, the capital of Austria. The organization will be carried out by Austria's national broadcaster ORF.