When 'United by Music' Becomes a Question, Not a Slogan

Sometimes, music achieves what rigid protocols cannot: it instantly reveals where discord exists in the world.

This week, a sharp, almost symbolic note sounded during the Eurovision proceedings. Nemo, the Swiss artist and winner of the 2024 contest, announced they would be returning their trophy to the organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). This gesture is a direct protest against the decision to permit Israel’s participation in the 2026 contest.

The Week's Defining Moment: Nemo's Stance

Nemo articulated that they perceive a stark contradiction between the core values of the competition—unity, inclusivity, and dignity—and the EBU's choice to maintain Israel's involvement. This decision comes amidst the ongoing war in Gaza and significant international scrutiny, including findings mentioned in UN commission reports, allegations which Israel firmly denies.

The EBU responded by expressing regret over the artist's decision while simultaneously affirming respect for Nemo's position. They stressed that Nemo remains a valued member of the broader Eurovision family.

Contest Upheaval: Boycotts and Divisions

Following the EBU's announcement, five nations declared they would abstain from the 2026 event: Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland. While the stated reasons vary slightly, the underlying sentiment is consistent: it has become impossible to pretend this is 'just about music' when the world is acutely aware of suffering.

Despite these withdrawals, the contest is not collapsing. Countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova have confirmed their intention to return to participation, and the EBU continues to emphasize the importance of maintaining a unified community.

Vienna 2026: The Music is Still Scheduled

The milestone 70th anniversary contest is slated to take place in Vienna, specifically at the Wiener Stadthalle. The confirmed dates are the semi-finals on May 12th and 14th, 2026, with the Grand Final scheduled for May 16th, 2026.

This brings us to the central paradox of the week: the motto 'United by Music' is already printed on promotional materials, yet the very concept of 'unity' has transformed from an assertion into a genuine question.

Not Competing, But Resonating Peace

We are free to debate the rules, and we can certainly disagree with organizational decisions. However, living music always calls us toward something deeper than mere victory; it seeks resonance.

It pushes us away from asking 'who is right' and toward asking 'how do we preserve the humanity within each other.' Nemo's action is not fundamentally about a physical trophy. It speaks to the fact that the world possesses too sensitive an ear to simply ignore dissonance behind slogans.

If Eurovision genuinely aspires to be a space for peace, it faces the complex challenge of keeping the stage intact without weaponizing it—and keeping the participants engaged without forcing them into silence.

The Global Impact of This Event

This situation injects a high note of responsibility into the cultural sphere. When culture achieves global reach, it can no longer afford to exist 'outside the world's reality.'

It also introduces a quiet hope: the possibility remains that we can choose a tone of care over a tone of division, and a tone of shared human feeling over mere competition.

We all possess different timbres, certainly. But if we listen closely enough, we can still meet on the common ground of the desire to live. If humanity has any chance of avoiding deafness from its own noise, it comes not from those who shout the loudest, but from those who, in the most difficult moments, remain capable of hearing another person.

Music, in this context, is about refusing to look away from reality while simultaneously safeguarding a space within it where the individual matters more than the flag, and a living voice is more significant than any marketing slogan.

The louder the adult world argues over regulations, boycotts, and approvals, the clearer the quiet, sincere singing of another frequency becomes—that of the child's heart. In the song 'Ce Monde,' Luce from the Junior Eurovision 2025 contest voices what we adults constantly overlook: this world is first felt, and only then is it discussed. Perhaps the most honest expression of 'United by Music' today is not found on large billboards, but in the transparent voice of a child singing simply about the world they wish to inhabit.