Eurovision Exodus: Over Half Back Boycott — Only 18% Norwegian Want Norway In

A new NRK-commissioned poll shows a clear split: 52 percent of those surveyed say Norway should pull out of Eurovision if Israel is allowed to compete, and public pressure is mounting on the broadcaster to act.

It began as a cultural spat and has ballooned into a full‑blown national row. Streetside interviews in Oslo, heated social‑media threads and a chorus of musicians have turned the Eurovision question into one of the year’s most combustible debates — and now a poll suggests the people have a message for NRK: listen up.

The survey, carried out for NRK by Norstat, found that just over half of Norwegians would prefer Norway to withdraw from the contest should Israel be included — a result that has sent ripples through the corridors of the public broadcaster and the music industry alike. For many respondents, the contest is no longer seen as merely a light‑entertainment spectacle but as a stage on which moral and political lines are being drawn.

Musician Torgny Amdam has been one of the most vocal figures to step into the fray, publicly urging NRK to heed the poll and consider a boycott as a principled stand. «If the people feel strongly, the broadcaster must take that into account», he told local outlets, arguing that participation would be read as normalisation rather than cultural exchange. His intervention has given the movement a familiar face and a louder megaphone.

On the other side of the argument, critics warn that Eurovision has always been framed as a celebration of music and inclusion, not geopolitics. Some Norwegians interviewed on the streets argued that culture should remain separate from state policy and that boycotting would punish artists and fans rather than effect political change. The debate has split families and friend groups, with passionate voices on both sides.

NRK’s entertainment chiefs have acknowledged the strength of feeling but have been cautious about letting a single poll dictate policy. Insiders say the broadcaster is weighing its options carefully, mindful of its role within the European Broadcasting Union and the precedent a unilateral withdrawal might set. Whatever NRK decides, the poll has made one thing plain: this is no longer a niche controversy.

This is confirmed in a new survey: 52 percent of those surveyed believe that Norway should not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates. The survey was conducted for the Norwegian Trade Union Confederation (Fagforbundet). (A random sample of 1,000 people over the age of 18 participated in the survey, which was conducted between 11 December and 17 December 2025).

Only 18 percent believe that Norway should participate, writes Klassekampen.

Expect the pressure to intensify as the EBU meeting approaches and broadcasters across Europe weigh their positions. For now, the nation is watching, arguing and, in many cases, calling for action — and the simple statistic at the heart of the row is impossible to ignore: 52 percent of those surveyed want Norway to stay away if Israel takes part.