Warwick cancels popular Eurovision piazza screening for second year in a row

The University of Warwick’s annual screening of the Eurovision final will not be held for the second year in a row, The Boar can reveal.

The event had been a popular staple of Term 3 social schedules in previous years, with students gathering to watch the contest final on the piazza big screen.

However, The Boar can confirm that this year’s contest, which will be held on 17 May, will not be shown at the University.

The University told The Boar that the decision had been made to cancel the screening in order to prioritise the running of new student-focused and student-led events this term.

We will focus on [new events] this coming term, and we will not be running the Eurovision screening this year

University spokesperson

A University spokesperson said: “The Together at Warwick team has undertaken a large student consultation project this year, The Big Ask. We are still working our way through the data but have noted the exciting and consistent ideas which have been put forward by students.

“The ideas we want to trial during Term 3 include an end-of-year celebration, film screenings, and regular student meet-ups. These are the areas and activities we will focus on this coming term, and we will not be running the Eurovision screening this year.”

Students gathered on the piazza to watch the 2023 Eurovision final, the last time a screening was held at Warwick. Image: Abigail Mableson / The Boar

Safety concerns surrounding the event have been raised in previous years, including the risk of overcrowding and littering on the piazza.

The screening was also cancelled last year as a result of the encampment by Warwick Stands with Palestine (WSWP) which, at the time, was set up on the piazza. Concerns were also raised that student demonstrators could disrupt the event over their opposition to Israel’s participation in the contest.

While the University would not be drawn on whether the decision behind this year’s cancellation was directly influenced by the threat of student protests over Israel’s continued participation, they did add that safety was always a consideration when organising on-campus events.

In planning any future Eurovision screening, it’s paramount we leave sufficient time and resource to plan a safe event

University spokesperson

The spokesperson told The Boar: “Safety is something we consider when planning all our events, and it has greater complexity when planning events which will attract more people.”

“The Eurovision event in 2023 was popular (and fun) but turned out to be much larger than we had anticipated. Therefore, in planning any future Eurovision screening, it’s paramount we leave sufficient time and resource to plan a safe event.”

Israel’s participation in this year’s contest has been met with criticism from fans and broadcasters, who have called on their disqualification from the contest due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The Icelandic and Spanish broadcasters have both called for a discussion to be held by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – which organises the contest – over whether Israel should be allowed to compete in this year’s contest. The Slovenian broadcaster has gone one step further, calling on Israel’s removal from the contest.

The EBU Director Martin Green has reiterated, however, that Israel will be allowed to compete in this year’s contest, stating in an interview that “what matters [in the contest] is what unites us, not what divides us.”

The University are not cancelling the screening out of moral consciousness, but out of fear of what disruption would follow. This is a testament to the power of collective student action

WSWP statement

Student protest group WSWP have welcomed the cancellation of the contest screening by the University, hailing it as a “decisive victory” for the group, who have pressured the University into divesting ties with companies and organisations funding Israel’s involvement in their conflict with Palestine.

A spokesperson for WSWP told The Boar: “We have pressured the University into setting the precedent that Eurovision will never be screened on campus while it assists genocide.”

The statement, which was later posted on social media, continues: “The inclusion of Israel in Eurovision is a cynical exercise in pinkwashing apartheid under the guise of ‘uniting’ through music. There is no reason any state, institution or individual should be complicit in normalising Israel’s genocide.”

“However, the University are not cancelling the screening out of moral consciousness, but out of fear of what disruption would follow. This is a testament to the power of collective student action, which will continue until Warwick cuts research and investment ties with companies facilitating the Israeli regime.”

For students still wanting to experience an outdoor Eurovision event, Leamington’s Eurovision Festival will be returning again this year.

Regardless of whether potential protest action factored into the cancellation of the piazza screening, the event in Pump Room Gardens will not be exempt from the possibility of similar dissent.

Eden Golan’s performance was disrupted at Leamington’s Eurovision Festival last year by local pro-Palestine demonstrators. Image: Nikolai Morton / The Boar

At the 2024 screening, members of local activist group ‘Justice for Palestinians – Leamington Spa’ held up Palestinian flags and “Israel: nul points” signs next to the big screen during the Israeli performance.

While another year goes by without a Eurovision event on campus, the University did tell The Boar: “Next academic year, you are likely to see the return of some events we didn’t run this year, alongside new events and community building projects.”

The University did not confirm, however, whether the Eurovision screening will be one of the returning events.