Malta’s contribution to the Eurovision Song Festival, co-written by a Dutch songwriter, has advanced to the finals as the musical event faces its largest boycott ever.
Bella by Aidan Cassar was co-written by 24-year-old Dutch-Swedish songwriter Joep van den Boom and moved forward after Thursday evening’s second semi-final.
The 70th anniversary of the world’s most-watched music programme has been marred with controversy, including a five-country boycott.
The Netherlands joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland in skipping the 2026 event in Vienna over the inclusion of Israel.
Dutch broadcast AvroTros, which had organised the Dutch entry, announced last year it was withdrawing, citing severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza, restrictions on press freedom and political interference during the last contest.
Critics accused the organiser, the European Broadcasting Union, of hypocrisy for allowing Israel to participate after banning Russia and Belarus following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The European Broadcasting Union changed the voting system last year over allegations that Israel had abused the public voting system. The body issued a warning to an Israeli broadcaster last week over advertisements encouraging viewers to vote for the Israeli participant.
Israeli singer Noam Bettan has also advanced to the finals.
Three of the boycotting countries – Spain, Ireland, Slovenia – are also not airing the competition. Public broadcasting channel NPO1 is broadening the event in the Netherlands.
