Although Slovenia has recently announced its withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest, the decision does not necessarily signal a long-term absence. The country’s public broadcaster, RTV SLO, has clarified that its stance toward the contest will be reassessed on a yearly basis.
Slovenia was among the four broadcasters that opted out of Eurovision 2026, following Israel’s confirmed participation in next year’s contest in Vienna. However, the possibility of Slovenia returning to the competition remains open.
In an interview with The Euro Trip, Natalija Gorščak, President of RTV’s Management Board, spoke at length for the first time in English since the broadcaster’s withdrawal on December 4, outlining the reasons behind the decision and the broader considerations involved.
When asked whether Eurovision is suffering from a loss of credibility, Gorščak responded decisively:
“Of course it is. Over the last eight years, politics has entered Eurovision very strongly. There was always a political aspect — we saw it in the ’90s as well — but the level of politicisation since 2017 is not OK.”
She emphasised that RTV’s move is not intended as a boycott, but rather as a stance of disagreement:
“We’re not telling anyone not to go to Eurovision. We simply won’t be there because we do not agree with Israel’s participation. It is our right to withdraw.”
Despite the withdrawal, Gorščak made it clear that Slovenia could return:
“If things go well this year, we might come back next year. If circumstances improve, I believe we will participate again.”
During the first day of the EBU’s Winter General Assembly in Geneva, members voted in favour of a new package of measures aimed at preventing outside manipulation of the voting process. The approval of these measures effectively guaranteed Israel’s participation, leading Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland to step back from the contest.
Interestingly, although RTV supported the proposed measures in principle, it ultimately voted against their adoption, as rejecting them would have triggered a direct vote on Israel’s participation.
Gorščak also highlighted that public sentiment plays a decisive role in shaping the broadcaster’s decisions:
“We will evaluate our participation every year. We listen closely to what our viewers and users say. Last year, our audience — along with performers and musicians — made it clear they did not want Slovenia to take part. Our country has made its choice.”
@eurotrippodcast ‘Does it undermine Eurovision?’ ‘Of course. Of course. Of course’ RTV’s Natalija Gorščak from Slovenia speaks about the Israeli Government’s influence on the contest #eurovision #eurovision2026 #esc2026 ♬ original sound – The Euro Trip Podcast
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Source: The Eurotrip Podcast