Palestine solidarity organisations have teamed up with an organisation representing people working in the arts and entertainment sector to launch the campaign "Malta: No Music for Genocide", calling on the Maltese Government and Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) to withdraw Malta's participation from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.

This call, a statement by the organisations said Saturdya, follows the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) decision to allow Israel to compete, despite its ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.

Cultural events are inherently political, as demonstrated when Russia was barred from participating in the Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine. In contrast, during its ongoing genocide in Gaza, Israel allocated a record budget to its Eurovision participation, clearly instrumentalising the competition for political ends.

Over the past two years, the world has witnessed an extermination campaign in Gaza, with more than 70,000 Palestinians killed, including the deliberate targeting of children, journalists, and healthcare workers. Palestinians across Gaza and the occupied West Bank continue to face displacement, apartheid, and systematic violence by the Israeli army and settlers. Israel's aggression also extends beyond Palestine, with ongoing attacks and illegal occupations in neighbouring Lebanon and Syria.

Allowing Israel to appear as a "normal" participant in a global cultural event erases these realities, perpetuating the deadly message that Israel can act with impunity, the organisations said.

Across Europe and beyond, artists, activists, and civil society organisations have mobilised to challenge Israel's participation in the Eurovision. While presented as a celebration of unity and diversity, the Eurovision is in reality providing a platform for institutions to whitewash mass violence against civilians.

Malta has formally recognised the State of Palestine and claims a commitment to human rights and international law. These principles must now be reflected in concrete action.

"We call on the Maltese Government and PBS to join Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Iceland, and withdraw Malta's participation from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest for as long as Israel is allowed to compete," the statement added.

"We also call on artists, creative professionals, cultural organisations, and civil society organisations to endorse the campaign by filling in the form on our website, www.maltanomusicforgenocide.org, or by sending an email to [email protected]."

Malta faces a clear choice: to participate in the normalisation of genocide, or to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom, dignity, and self-determination.

The campaign "Malta: No Music for Genocide" will announce its first actions in the coming days.