European broadcasters to vote on Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision 2026
text_fields
Israeli fans cheer for Yuval Raphael as she performs 'New Day Will Rise' during the second semifinal of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest | Photo: AP/Martin Meissner
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that an online vote will be held in November to decide whether Israel’s broadcaster Kan will be excluded from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
In a letter to member broadcasters, EBU president Delphine Ernotte Cunci noted that Israel’s participation had sparked a wide range of opinions and said the matter needed to be settled with broader democratic input.
According to an official statement, the EBU’s executive board informed the directors general of all members that the vote will take place during an extraordinary general assembly meeting in early November, the Guardian reported.
The move follows threats of boycotts from several broadcasters, including those in Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia, who have said they would boycott the next edition if Israel were allowed to compete.
Israel, a four-time winner since its debut in 1973, has continued to participate in recent years despite growing controversy. By contrast, Russia was barred from the contest after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The 2024 contest in Malmö and the 2025 edition in Basel were both accompanied by large pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the venues.
Next year’s Eurovision, marking the 70th anniversary of the competition, is scheduled to take place in Vienna in May. Austrian broadcaster ORF, which is hosting the event, has indicated it is confident the contest will go ahead even if some countries withdraw, stressing that the show will be staged regardless of how many broadcasters take part.