The Danish broadcaster DR has stated it will not withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel competes, but has set conditions for its continued participation.
In a statement to DR Nyheder, Gustav Lützhøft, who is the senior editor of DR Culture, Debate and Music, has outlined the Danish broadcaster’s position on participation in the Eurovision Song Contest:
“DR supports ESC as a cultural event that has brought nations together through music since 1957. Our participation is conditional on there still being a strong international community, security in place and an apolitical framework around the competition.
Our participation is neither a support for nor a protest against individual countries, but rather a desire to maintain communities across borders. In a time marked by unrest and division, it is worth reminding each other of the original purpose of competitions like ESC: to create a space where we can meet across differences and disagreements. ESC must be preserved as an apolitical community. DR wants to continue to be a part of this, and we have informed the EBU of this.”
To date, four broadcasters have stated they will withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna over Israel’s participation. RTVSLO (Slovenia), RTÉ (Ireland), AVROTROS (Netherlands) and RTVE (Spain) have all stated that they would not compete if Israel takes part in the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, while RÚV (Iceland) has stated it may withdraw. A vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 is due to take place at the EBU General Assembly on December 4-5 in Geneva.
Denmark is due to select their representative for Eurovision 2026 through Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026 which will be held on February 14 at the Arena Nord in Frederikshavn. Sissal represented Denmark at Eurovision 2025 with “Hallucination”, qualifying for the Final for the first time since 2019. In the Final, she finished in 23rd place with 47 points.
Image source: Alma Bengtsson / EBU | Source: DR
Denmark debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957, alongside Austria and the United Kingdom. To date, Denmark has won the contest on three occasions. The first was in 1963, when Grethe & Jorgen Ingmann performed “Dansevise”. Denmark won the contest again in 2000 with “Fly On the Wings of Love” by the Olsen Brothers. Their most recent victory came in 2013, when Emmelie de Forest performed “Only Teardrops”.
