Eurovision to Vote on Israel's Participation in November
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will hold a vote this November on whether Israel will be allowed to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. The vote, set to take place at an extraordinary meeting of the EBU’s General Assembly, will be held online and follows months of mounting pressure from member countries over Israel's actions in Gaza. Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, and Iceland have all threatened to pull out if Israel remains involved, citing the EBU’s previous decision to exclude Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
The vote will focus specifically on Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, and needs a majority among 68 member states to pass. Some countries, like Austria and Germany, support Israel's inclusion, while others—such as Belgium, Sweden, and Finland—are still deciding. The EBU said, “Given that the Union has never faced a divisive situation like this before, the Board agreed that this question merited a broader democratic basis for a decision.”
Kan has defended its place in the competition, calling Eurovision a space for cultural exchange and not politics. However, the controversy shows no signs of easing, especially after a UN Commission accused Israel of genocide, a charge the country rejects. With deadlines for broadcasters to decide whether they will participate approaching, member broadcasters must decide whether the world’s biggest music event can—or should—remain politically neutral.
