Sweden’s SVT Stands Firm: “No Boycott Threat” Ahead of EBU Vote on Israel’s Eurovision Future

As Europe’s broadcasters prepare for a historic vote in November on whether Israel should be allowed to compete in Eurovision 2026, Sweden’s SVT has made its position clear: there will be no boycott threat from Stockholm.

In an email to Kulturnyheterna, Anne Lagercrantz, head of SVT, emphasised the Swedish broadcaster’s independence and neutrality, saying:

“Many people want to know where SVT stands. SVT is independent — that’s one of our core principles. We don’t take political positions. It’s we, and no one else, who decide on our participation in the ESC. Our choices should not be interpreted as a statement for or against any country’s public broadcaster or participation.”

“A Broad European Consensus Is Needed”

Lagercrantz outlined three core conditions that must be in place for SVT’s continued participation:
-Broad European support for the contest.
-Security for participants and the public.
-Eurovision must remain as apolitical as possible, in line with EBU rules.

“SVT’s participation is conditional on these basic prerequisites. We will take time to listen to the EBU and other member broadcasters,” Lagercrantz added.

The comments come as Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland have all said they may withdraw from the contest if Israel takes part, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Lessons from the Russia Precedent

Asked about the contrast with SVT’s strong stance in 2022, when it urged the EBU to expel Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, Lagercrantz drew a key distinction:

“The Russian public broadcasters were part of the state — part of Putin’s propaganda machine. They were not independent.”

She also noted that there had been “greater unity in the West” regarding Russia’s war, making that decision more straightforward.

A Test of Eurovision’s Core Values

The EBU’s extraordinary meeting in November will decide Israel’s fate ahead of next year’s contest in Vienna, Austria.
While the vote requires a 75% majority for any suspension, the growing pressure on the EBU is unprecedented in the competition’s seven-decade history.

As Lagercrantz put it, SVT will continue to focus on music, not politics — but in a Europe more divided than ever, keeping Eurovision apolitical might prove harder than winning it.

Source: SVT