Thursday marked the biggest crisis in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Four countries pulled out over Israel's continued participation in the competition, and more may follow.
The boycott includes Ireland, which has won seven times - a tally matched only by Sweden - and five-time winner the Netherlands.
Spain, one of the contest's biggest financial backers, and Slovenia, are also out.
The row exposes a deep rift within the Eurovision family, a situation that's been looming for years due to tension surrounding Israel's conduct during the war in Gaza.
Participating countries have expressed their concerns regarding the voting and campaigning processes, especially after Israel topped the public vote this year, finishing second overall after jury votes were considered.
Israel called its continuation in the contest a victory against critics alleging silencing and hate.
During a summit with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), divisions within the Eurovision community were prominently highlighted. While no direct vote was held on Israel's status, discussions surrounding proposed new rules prompted a majority vote to maintain participation.
Director general of ORF, Roland Weissmann, described the discussions as heated yet fair, affirming the democratic process behind the decision.
Despite the discussions' outcome, tensions regarding Israel's place have led to further withdrawals from other nations. Spain's broadcaster was particularly vocal about dissatisfaction with the organizers for not acting decisively regarding the controversy surrounding Israel's voting influence.
Several other nations are still contemplating their participation for the upcoming contest, leading to uncertainly about future Eurovision events.
The growing discontent has implications not only for the contest's integrity but also for its financial structure as major funding contributors step back.
So far, the loss of four countries is counterbalanced by the anticipated return of Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria, but the contest is undeniably wounded as it approaches a defining moment in its history in 2026.
As the music industry increasingly supports Palestinian causes, it may become challenging to secure artists willing to participate under current conditions, directly conflicting with Eurovision's mission of uniting through music.
