Vote on Israel’s Participation in Eurovision 2026 Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a landmark decision, members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) are set to vote in November regarding Israel’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest scheduled for next year.

An EBU spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that “a vote on participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place at an extraordinary meeting of the EBU’s General Assembly, which will be conducted online in early November.” The specific focus of the vote will be whether the Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, will be permitted to compete.

Israel’s involvement in the contest has been scrutinized due to the continuing war in Gaza. Several national broadcasters have indicated that they might withdraw from the competition should Israel participate. Notably, on September 16, the Spanish broadcaster RTVE announced its intention to exit the contest if Israel enters. Similar statements have been made by broadcasters from Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Slovenia.

A recent letter sent to EBU members by President Delphine Ernotte Cunci highlighted that there exists an “unprecedented diversity of views” regarding Israel’s participation, necessitating a “broader democratic basis” for the decision.

In response, KAN expressed its desire for the Eurovision Song Contest to maintain a cultural and non-political identity. “We hope the contest will continue to uphold its founding values of unity, solidarity, and fellowship,” the statement read. KAN emphasized that any disqualification would be particularly concerning as the competition prepares to celebrate its 70th edition, which symbolizes these core values.

Since the outbreak of the current conflict on October 7, 2023, triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel, protests against Israel’s participation in Eurovision have intensified. Earlier this year in Malmo, Sweden, thousands protested, and during a performance by Israeli singer Yuval Raphael at a February event in Basel, demonstrators attempted to disrupt the show.

Due to the ongoing discord over Israel’s inclusion, the deadline for final confirmations of participation has been postponed, now extending to December.