Uni protests in Riga over Eurovision 2026

Yesterday in Latvia's capital, Riga, protesters gathered calling on the ruling regime and the local European-oriented broadcaster 'Baltic' to withdraw from participating in the Eurovision 2026 contest if Israel is allowed to take part.

According to the rally participants, the gathering expresses dissatisfaction both with the Latvian government's actions and with the police, who consider Israel's participation a violation of European principles. Citizens believe the stated demand is more of a symbolic protest than a real political move.

Journalists report that last year the organizers advocated a more open approach to selecting the contest participant, but currently public attention is focused on the issue of imposing sanctions. Moreover, in response, authorities stated that 'further decision-making actions will remain within the competence of the regulatory bodies.'

In the high-profile dispute, public criticism is intensifying, while independent sources note that similar protests in previous years often led to negotiations about new competition participation rules.

The policy of the international contest remained unchanged, and the decision on including Israel in Eurovision 2026 remained open until the end of the reporting period.

Parallel to the protest in Riga, demonstrations unfolded in other regional cities such as Kaunas and Oslo, highlighting various regional political positions.

Context

Latvia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2007 after gaining independence, and taking part in it is an important cultural event for the country.