Swedish pop star Robyn has never been one to mince words, and her latest verdict on the Eurovision Song Contest is no exception. In an appearance on Amy Poehler's podcast Good Hang, the singer behind 'Dancing On My Own' and 'With Every Heartbeat' called the annual competition 'embarrassing' and, more bluntly, 'shit'.
Robyn, who has long been a critical darling of the European pop scene, suggested that Eurovision's appeal has faded for her since the heyday of ABBA. The Swedish quartet won the contest in 1974 with 'Waterloo', and Sweden has since claimed the trophy six more times, most recently with Loreen's 'Tattoo' in 2023. But for Robyn, the magic is gone.
'We don't have ABBA any more so I don't really watch Eurovision. Now it's just shit, I would say,' she told Poehler. She added that even her American friends find the show hard to stomach: 'My friend Bert has a blanket he pulls up over his eyes when we're watching it because it's so embarrassing. It really is embarrassing.'
Robyn described feeling 'overstimulated and in a bad way' after watching, and confessed that she struggles to find the right words to describe her discomfort. 'I was looking for words – I'm not going to say – but I don't like it,' she said.
Her comments come at a time when Eurovision is facing mounting criticism from within Europe, not just over its musical quality but over its political entanglements. The inclusion of Israel in recent line-ups has sparked a wave of boycotts and withdrawals. Last month, Dutch public broadcaster NPO reversed its earlier decision to return to the contest, after AVROTROS had announced in August that it would not participate because of Israel's presence.
Ireland has already confirmed it will sit out Eurovision 2027, and the head of Spain's public broadcaster has voiced support for a boycott. The Czech public broadcaster has also pulled out, though it cited spending cuts as the reason. In 2026, five countries – Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia – boycotted the event after organisers declined to exclude Israel over its military actions in Gaza and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Spanish broadcaster RTVE said at the time that it would not broadcast the contest or the semi-finals, criticising the decision-making process as 'insufficient' and saying that the EBU's decision to keep Israel as a competitor 'increases RTVE's distrust of the festival's organisation and confirms the political pressure surrounding it.'
Irish broadcaster RTÉ stated that Ireland's participation 'remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there.' Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO said taking part 'would conflict with its values of peace, equality and respect' and that it was pulling out 'on behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza.'
The controversy has taken a toll on viewership. The 2026 competition drew 131 million viewers, down 35 million from the previous year. Eurovision 2027 is scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, on 15 May, following Dara's win in Vienna this year.
Robyn's own Eurovision legacy
Despite her disdain for the contest, Robyn remains a towering figure in European pop. Her latest album, Sexistential, was included in Euronews Culture's Best Albums of 2026 So Far list, with critics praising its exploration of female sexuality, motherhood and existential dread. As she sings in the title track: 'My body's a spaceship with the ovaries on hyperdrive / Got a whole universe inside that exists in between my thighs.'
Robyn's critique adds a notable voice to the growing chorus of European artists and broadcasters questioning Eurovision's relevance. While the contest has long been a campy celebration of pop excess, its political undercurrents have become harder to ignore. For Robyn, the spectacle has become less about music and more about cringe – a sentiment that, given the recent boycotts, may resonate with more Europeans than ever.
