Eurovision members to vote on Israel's participation amid ongoing Gaza conflict
Members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) are set to vote in November on whether Israel will be allowed to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. The vote will take place during an extraordinary meeting of the EBU’s General Assembly, which is scheduled to be held online in early November. A spokesperson for the EBU confirmed the vote would determine if Israeli public broadcaster KAN can take part in the competition.
The question of Israel's participation has arisen due to its ongoing war crimes in Gaza. Several broadcasters have threatened to withdraw from the event if Israel competes. On September 16, Spanish broadcaster RTVE announced it would pull out of Eurovision, set to take place in Vienna next May, if Israel is allowed to participate. Broadcasters from Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Slovenia have made similar declarations.
Delphine Ernotte Cunci, president of the EBU, sent a letter to members on Thursday, stating there is a "diversity of views" on whether Israel should be allowed to compete. She emphasized that the decision would need a "broader democratic basis," according to The Guardian.
In response, KAN expressed hope that Eurovision would continue to uphold its cultural and non-political identity. The broadcaster added that disqualifying Israel would be especially troubling ahead of the 70th edition of the song contest, which was founded on principles of unity, solidarity, and fellowship. KAN warned that such a move could have significant implications for both the competition and the values the EBU represents.
Since the start of the Gaza conflict October 7 2023, protests have erupted in opposition to Israel's participation in Eurovision. In 2024, demonstrators gathered in Malmo, Sweden, and in Basel earlier this year, protestors attempted to disrupt Israeli singer Yuval Raphael’s performance. As tensions continue, the deadline for final confirmation of participation has been extended to December.