Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHr4gKRaos

The Eurovision Song Contest has long been known for being extravagant, theatrical, and unapologetically camp. Every year, millions of viewers across Europe and beyond tune in to watch one of the world’s largest live music competitions. However, the 70th edition of Eurovision in Vienna felt very different from previous celebrations.

Instead of focusing entirely on music and entertainment, much of the international attention surrounding Eurovision 2026 centered on politics, boycotts, and questions about the contest’s credibility.

This year, Bulgaria shocked audiences by winning Eurovision for the first time in its history. The song “Bangaranga,” performed by 27-year-old singer Dara, received an impressive 516 points and topped both the jury and public votes. It was the first time since 2017 that professional juries and televoters completely agreed on the winning entry.

Despite Bulgaria’s historic victory, many viewers felt uncomfortable about the political atmosphere surrounding the event. Eurovision’s official slogan, “United By Music,” appeared increasingly ironic because of growing tensions linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands officially boycotted the contest because Israel was still allowed to participate. These countries argued that Eurovision could not claim political neutrality while permitting Israel’s participation during the conflict in Gaza.

The controversy comes from Eurovision’s earlier decision to remove Russia from the competition after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Critics accused the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) of applying double standards by banning Russia but continuing to allow Israel to compete.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended Spain’s decision to withdraw from Eurovision. He praised RTVE, Spain’s national broadcaster, for taking what he described as a “consistent and necessary” moral position. Sánchez argued that Spain preferred to stand “on the right side of history,” even if it meant missing one of Europe’s biggest entertainment events.

RTVE also broadcast messages supporting peace and justice for Palestine before the Eurovision final. Instead of airing the competition itself, Spanish television showed a special tribute celebrating Spanish musical history, including performances by Benidorm Fest artists Tony Grox and LUCYCALYS.

Many Eurovision fans expressed mixed emotions online. Some believed Spain’s boycott was courageous and principled, while others argued that music competitions should remain separate from political conflicts.

The debate over Eurovision is also part of a larger global conversation about the effectiveness of boycotts. Throughout modern history, consumers and governments have used boycotts to pressure countries and companies to change their behavior. In recent years, many people have boycotted Russian products after the invasion of Ukraine, while others have avoided American, Chinese, or Israeli brands because of political disagreements, human rights concerns, or international conflicts.

Some experts believe boycotts can be effective because they damage a country’s economy or public image. For example, international sanctions and economic boycotts played an important role in ending apartheid in South Africa during the 1990s. Others argue that boycotts are often symbolic and rarely change government policy directly. Critics also point out that ordinary workers and businesses may suffer more than political leaders.

At the same time, cultural and sporting events continue to raise questions about whether they truly unite people or simply reflect existing political tensions. Events such as the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, and Eurovision are designed to promote international cooperation, yet they frequently become platforms for political protest, activism, and national rivalry.

Despite the controversy, Eurovision remains enormously popular. Fans argue that the competition celebrates diversity, creativity, and freedom of expression. Others believe it has become too political and commercialized. As global conflicts continue to influence international events, the debate over culture, politics, and boycotts is likely to remain highly controversial for many years.

2. PRE-READING DISCUSSION

A. Politics & Entertainment

Discuss these questions:

Should politics and entertainment remain separate?
Can music competitions ever truly be neutral?
Why do cultural events become political?
Should countries at war participate in international events?
Do celebrities and artists influence politics too much?

B. International Controversies

What do you know about these controversies?

Russia being banned from sporting competitions
Political protests at the Olympic Games
FIFA World Cup controversies in Qatar
Cultural boycotts of countries at war
Social media campaigns against international companies

3. VOCABULARY MATCH

PART A

Match the vocabulary with the correct definitions.

Vocabulary	Definition
1. double standard	e. ability to be trusted or believed
2. camp	g. to officially remove from participation
3. boycott	b. humorous because it is exaggerated and theatrical
4. divisive	h. a publicly expressed opinion or position
5. credibility	c. refusal to participate or buy something
6. authenticity	a. causing strong disagreement
7. disqualify	f. genuineness or originality
8. stance	d. unfair rule or moral code that is applied differently to different people or situations

PART B

Continue matching the vocabulary with the correct definitions.

Vocabulary	Definition
9. principled	l. to become more important than something else
10. controversy	o. action intended to create political or social change
11. backlash	n. strong competition between groups or countries
12. overshadow	k. criticism or public opposition
13. sanctions	p. influenced too much by money or business interests
14. rivalry	j. a strong public disagreement
15. activism	m. official penalties imposed on a country
16. commercialized	i. morally correct or based on principles

4. SYNONYM MATCH

Match the words with their synonyms.

Word	Synonym
1. milestone	a. divided
2. tuned in	b. reputation
3. divisive	c. watched
4. credibility	d. campaign
5. boycott	e. important moment
6. stance	f. refusal
7. campaign	g. position
8. authenticity	h. excessive / exagerated
9. over-the-top	i. originality
10. tension	j. conflict

5. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

Why did several countries boycott Eurovision 2026?
Why were some people accusing the EBU of double standards?
How did Spain respond to Eurovision this year?
Why did some viewers question Israel’s televoting success?
What did Pedro Sánchez mean by “the right side of history”?
Why do some fans think Eurovision is losing authenticity?
How has Eurovision reflected politics throughout its history?
Should cultural competitions remain politically neutral?
Do you think Spain made the correct decision?
Can music help reduce international tensions?

6 .SCENARIOS: “What would you do?”

1. THE EUROVISION BOYCOTT

Several countries refuse to participate in Eurovision because of political tensions involving another competing country.

→ Would you support the boycott?
→ Should music competitions stay politically neutral?
→ How would fans react?

2. THE SUPERMARKET BOYCOTT

A supermarket chain is accused of exploiting workers and paying extremely low salaries. Social media campaigns encourage consumers to stop shopping there.

→ Would you join the boycott?
→ Can consumers really change company behavior?
→ How should the company respond?

3. THE WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY

A country hosting the FIFA World Cup is criticized for human rights issues. Some fans want their national teams to boycott the tournament.

→ Should sports and politics remain separate?
→ Is it fair to punish athletes?
→ Would a boycott create real change?

4. THE CELEBRITY SCANDAL

A famous singer makes controversial political comments online. Many fans begin boycotting the artist’s music, concerts, and merchandise.

→ Should celebrities be judged for their political opinions?
→ Can social media destroy reputations too easily?
→ Would you stop supporting the artist?

5. THE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY

A technology company is accused of sharing user data and violating privacy rights. Activists encourage people to delete the app and stop using its products.

→ How dependent are people on technology companies?
→ Are digital boycotts effective?
→ Would most users really stop using the app?

6. THE OLYMPIC GAMES PROTEST

Several athletes plan to protest during the Olympic Games because of an international conflict.

→ Should athletes use sports events for activism?
→ Would protests damage the spirit of the Olympics?
→ How should organizers react?

7. THE FAST-FOOD BOYCOTT

A fast-food company becomes associated with a political conflict, and customers in several countries begin avoiding the brand.

→ Do international companies become political too easily?
→ Can boycotts seriously damage global brands?
→ How should companies stay neutral?

8. THE UNIVERSITY CAMPAIGN

Students organize a boycott against a university partnership with a foreign company accused of unethical business practices.

→ Should universities become involved in activism?
→ Can student protests influence institutions?
→ Where is the line between activism and disruption?

9. THE FASHION BRAND CONTROVERSY

A clothing company is accused of using factories with unsafe working conditions and child labor.

→ Would you continue buying the brand?
→ Are ethical products becoming more important?
→ Do consumers care enough to change their habits?

10. THE STREAMING PLATFORM

A streaming platform releases a controversial documentary that causes political outrage. Thousands of users cancel their subscriptions.

→ Should platforms control controversial content?
→ Is cancel culture becoming too powerful?
→ Can public backlash threaten freedom of expression?

11. THE EUROVISION SPONSOR

A major sponsor of Eurovision is criticized because of environmental damage and political connections. Activists demand the competition remove the sponsor.

→ Should sponsors be judged ethically?
→ Is it possible for global events to avoid controversy?
→ Would removing sponsors solve the problem?

12. THE TOURISM BOYCOTT

Tourists stop visiting a country because of political instability and human rights concerns.

→ Can tourism boycotts damage a country’s economy?
→ Is it fair to punish ordinary workers and businesses?
→ Would you avoid travelling to certain countries for political reasons?

7. BOYCOTT

Choose ONE of the companies above and answer the following questions: Would you boycott this company? Why or why not?

Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola has been criticized for using too much water in countries such as India. Local communities said this left less water for farmers and families. The company has also faced criticism for poor working conditions and problems with workers’ rights in some Latin American countries.
Zara
Zara has been criticized because some factories connected to the company had unsafe working conditions and very low salaries. Critics also say fast fashion creates waste and encourages companies to produce cheap clothes too quickly.
Nike
Nike became famous for scandals involving child labor and sweatshops in the 1990s and early 2000s. Although the company later tried to improve factory conditions, many people still believe some workers are treated unfairly and paid too little.
Apple
Apple has faced criticism because workers in some factories in China worked very long hours in stressful conditions. Reports also connected these factory conditions to serious mental health problems among workers.
Amazon
Amazon has been criticized because warehouse workers say they work under a lot of pressure and are watched closely by managers and technology systems. Some employees also complain about short breaks and unrealistic work expectations.
Meta/Facebook
Meta, the company that owns Facebook, has been criticized for not protecting users’ private information well enough. People also believe the company allowed false information and harmful content to spread online to increase profits.
Shein
Shein has faced criticism because some factories connected to the company reportedly have unsafe conditions and very low pay for workers. The company has also been accused of copying clothing designs and creating too much waste through fast fashion.
Nestlé
Nestlé has been criticized because of reports about child labor on cocoa farms connected to its products. The company has also faced criticism for using too much water and creating large amounts of plastic waste.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen became involved in a major scandal when the company admitted it used software to cheat pollution tests in millions of cars. Many customers felt angry because they believed they were buying environmentally friendly vehicles.
BP (British Petroleum)
BP received worldwide criticism after a huge oil spill in 2010 caused serious environmental damage in the Gulf of Mexico. The disaster harmed sea animals, polluted the ocean, and affected people who depended on fishing and tourism for work.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s has been criticized for selling unhealthy food that may contribute to obesity and other health problems. The company has also faced criticism about low wages and poor working conditions for some workers.
H&M
H&M has been accused of using factories with poor working conditions and low pay in some developing countries. Environmental groups also criticize the company because fast fashion creates pollution and large amounts of waste.
Starbucks
Starbucks has faced criticism because some workers say the company tried to stop employees from joining labor unions. Critics also argue that the company creates unnecessary waste by using too many disposable cups.
TikTok
TikTok has been criticized because of concerns about user privacy and data security. Some people also believe the platform can negatively affect teenagers’ mental health because of excessive social media use.
Tesla
Tesla has faced criticism over reports of difficult working conditions and discrimination in some factories. The company has also been accused of exaggerating the abilities of its self-driving technology.

8. FILL IN THE BLANKS :

1. The Eurovision contest is happening in Austria this year. They are the competition.

2. This year 35 countries will be competing. In 2002, it was 24 countries. What is another way to say 24? .

3. The Eurovision Song Contest's first year was 1956. Because it was the first year this event was happening, it was the event .

4. Last year Austria was the winner and Israel was the second place. Having the second place means that Israel was the .

They had this position two times .

5. The Israel - Palestine topic divides people and creates a lot of hostility between them. This topic is considered to be very .

6. If you had a conflict with someone and stopped talking, then you had a

7. You have tickets to the event but they are at the highest and the most distant seats from the stage. They are also the cheapest tickets that you were able to find. So, the place where you are seated at the event is called the seats.

8. If many people are respecting and admiring Spain´s actions, then they are

to Spain.

9. If watching Eurovision live in concert is one of your dreams, then it is on your

10. If you are not a fan of Eurovision, then it is not your .

If you like Eurovision but you are not very proud about it , then it is a .

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Eurovision 2026: United By Music, Divided By Politics