Dutch Songwriter Co-Writes Malta's Eurovision Entry Amid Boycott
Malta’s entry for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, titled 'Bella' and performed by Aidan Cassar, has advanced to the finals despite a significant boycott of the event. The song was co-written by Joep van den Boom, a 24-year-old Dutch-Swedish songwriter, highlighting continued Dutch creative involvement even as the Netherlands officially withdrew from the competition. The 70th anniversary of the contest, held in Vienna, is marked by controversy and a five-country boycott led by the Netherlands, joined by Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland. These nations protested the inclusion of Israel, citing humanitarian concerns in Gaza and alleged political interference by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Critics have accused the EBU of hypocrisy for banning Russia and Belarus while allowing Israel to participate. Despite the boycott, Israeli singer Noam Bettan also advanced to the finals. While the boycotting countries are not airing the event, Dutch public broadcaster NPO1 is still providing coverage. The EBU recently changed voting rules following allegations of vote manipulation by Israel and issued warnings regarding pro-Israel voting advertisements.
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