The Berlin rapper joins the ESC boycott – and for him that is an unusually clear political signal.
Clear announcement from Berlin rapper Pashanim: He too is taking a stand in the debate about this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Because many people want to boycott the competition, which takes place next week from May 12th to 16th.
Controversy surrounding the ESC
There have been controversies and political disputes surrounding the ESC in recent years. Israel’s participation in the song competition triggered a wave of protests in 2024 and 2025. The ban on political statements in particular was met with resentment at the time.
Little has changed in 2026. Because Israel has been confirmed as a participant in the competition, public broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland have canceled their participation in this year’s ESC and will not broadcast the event. The call to exclude Israel this year was rejected by the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the contest.
This is seen by many as unfair since Russia was banned from participating after the attack on Ukraine in 2022 – however skewed the comparisons may be.
Open letter from over 1,100 artists
Many stars are also calling for Israel to be banned from participating. In an open letter, more than 1,100 artists called for a boycott of the event. Peter Gabriel, Paul Weller and Brian Eno have signed, among others. Former ESC winner Emmelie de Forest from Denmark has also signed.
Pashanim’s short but clear statement
The rapper Pashanim now expressed himself in an Instagram story – even if taciturn, but all the more urgent. He wrote: “No ESC”. There was nothing to add to that. When asked by the “Berliner Zeitung”, his management said that he did not need to add anything further. The statement is still effective: the rapper has a large and very young fan base. His clear statement is at the same time unusual and therefore particularly significant, since Pashanim rarely take a political position.
However, he takes a clear stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He had already taken part in a charity event for Gaza: On December 2, 2025, he appeared as the headliner of the “Berlin for Gaza” concert in the Columbiahalle. The event raised funds for humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip following Israeli attacks on the territory. Israel’s attacks came after the October 2023 massacre in which Palestinian terrorists killed more than 1,200 Israelis.
Germany’s participation secured
The participant for Germany, Sarah Engels, meanwhile described the ESC as a “wrong stage on which to resolve deep political conflicts”.
It is still unclear what extent the boycott will take this year and what impact this will have on viewer numbers. The final of the competition will take place on May 16th in Vienna. Germany will definitely be there because, as the main sponsor of the contest, the country is guaranteed a permanent place in the final round.
