Eurovision 2026: Israel's Involvement Will Be Put To A Vote, Bosses Confirm

Yuval Raphael represented Israel at Eurovision in 2025Eurovision organisers have announced that a vote will take place among its competing nations later this year which will determine whether or not Israel is permitted to return to the contest in 2026.While controversy around Israel’s presence at Eurovision is nothing new, in the last two years, as the conflict in Gaza has intensified, the issue has become a more contentious one.Many critics have called for Israel to be banned from the competition completely, similarly to how Russia was expelled in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine, with a number of countries saying in the last few weeks that they will withdraw from the contest if Israel returns next year.Official conversations about Israel’s participation took place earlier this year among members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the collection of national broadcasters who take part in Eurovision each year.These discussions didn’t reach any resolution at time, and it was later reported that they would continue in the autumn.However, the head of the EBU sent a letter to its members on Thursday stating that a vote about Israel’s involvement will take place in November.A statement from the EBU said (as reported by The Guardian): “We can confirm that a letter has been sent from the executive board of the European Broadcasting Union to directors general of all our members informing them that a vote on participation in the Eurovision song contest 2026 will take place at an extraordinary meeting of the EBU’s general assembly to be held online in early November.”Reigning Eurovision champion JJ has backed calls for Israel to be banned from the competitionThe national broadcasters for Slovenia, Ireland, The Netherlands and Spain have all said they will not return to Eurovision if Israel is invited back in 2026.Iceland and Belgium’s delegations have made similar claims, previously saying they’ll make an announcement about their participation once an official decision is reached about Israel.It’s clearly not an issue that all competing countries are in agreement over, though.Representatives for the national broadcasters of Malta, Croatia and Australia (which has now been part of Eurovision for a decade, first competing in 2015) insisted in the last week that they will remain part of the competition regardless of whether Israel is expelled.It was also reported by a number of news outlets earlier this year that Germany and Italy’s national broadcasters had threatened to pull out of Eurovision if Israel is banned.Germany’s Südwestrundfunk (SWR) told HuffPost UK in response to these rumours: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a major musical event that has brought people across Europe and beyond together for decades – diverse and respectful, regardless of origin, religion, or belief.“The ESC is a music competition organised by EBU broadcasters, not governments. The Israeli broadcaster KAN adheres to applicable regulations and has been an integral part of the music competition for more than 60 years. We affirm their membership and the core values of the ESC.HuffPost UK contacted the Italian broadcaster RAI for comment at the time, but did not receive a response.A statement from EBU director Martin Green to HuffPost UK earlier this month read: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. We are still consulting with all EBU Members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Song Contest.“Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year’s event in Vienna. It is up to each Member to decide if they want to take part in the Contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.”Reigning Eurovision champion JJ said shortly after his win in May that he supports calls for Israel to be removed from Eurovision, echoing his predecessor Nemo, who told HuffPost UK shortly before this year’s final: “I support the call for Israel’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel’s actions are fundamentally at odds with the values that Eurovision claims to uphold – peace, unity and respect for human rights.”MORE EUROVISION:This Is Why Next Year's Eurovision Song Contest Is Already Facing Controversy Over IsraelSpain Joins 3 More Countries In Saying It Will Withdraw From Eurovision If Israel Returns Next YearBBC Boss Reacts To Broadcasters' Calls For Israel To Be Banned From Eurovision Song Contest

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