Eurovision song contest to go on tour to celebrate 70th anniversary

The Eurovision Song Contest will go on its first ever tour to celebrate its 70th anniversary, its organiser has said, as it reels from a boycott due to Israel’s participation.Five countries have pulled out of the contest over Israel’s war in Gaza, leaving 35 to participate in the world’s biggest live televised music event – the fewest since entry was expanded in 2004.The tour in June and July will bring together “iconic Eurovision Song Contest performers and 2026’s artists”, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said on its website on Thursday.It hailed the tour as “a celebration of the contest’s legacy, its global fan community, and seven decades of unforgettable music”.“Artists will perform their own Eurovision Song Contest entries plus cover versions of their favourite songs from the contest’s 70-year history,” the EBU added.Ten European cities including London and Paris will host the tour from 15 June to 2 July, after the contest finals in Vienna on 16 May.On Monday a draw determined that Israel would take part in the first semi-final, on 12 May, starting at 9pm local time.Some nations have accused Israel of manipulating the public voting system during the 2025 contest held in Switzerland, where it finished second behind Austria. But it is concern over Israel’s war in Gaza that has prompted the most intense criticism, with the Irish broadcaster RTÉ citing “the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there” as a reason for its non-participation.Alongside RTÉ, broadcasters from Spain, Iceland, the Netherlands and Slovenia said in December they were pulling out, while the 2024 winner Nemo returned their trophy in protest.On Tuesday, Conchita Wurst, one of the contest’s most emblematic winners, announced she would not participate in any future Eurovision events, citing a “personal decision”.The Israeli broadcaster Kan has welcomed the decision to keep Israel in the contest, rejecting allegations of political interference. Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, has said Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”.Johannes Pietsch, known by the stage name JJ, the 2025 winner, last year called for an Austrian edition “without Israel” but then apologised for the uproar his proposal had caused in his country.Only 97,000 fans watched Monday’s semi-final draw on YouTube, down from more than 240,000 last year. But the EBU rejoiced over a “record sellout of tickets” for the upcoming edition, after the launch of online sales on Tuesday.