On Thursday, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that Israel will continue to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. This decision came after Israel reached a peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The EBU convened a long-awaited meeting to discuss the protocols for the 2026 edition of the contest, marking its 70th anniversary since World War II. Following Hamas’s invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, the EBU faced substantial pressure from pro-Hamas protesters and certain left-wing governments, heightened this year due to Israeli contestant Yuval Rafael’s impressive showing in the public vote.
The countries that didn’t fare well in the competition criticized Israel, claiming that the voting was manipulated to gain sympathy amid the ongoing conflict. They argued for reforms to prevent governments from campaigning for their representatives. Although the EBU rejected allegations of vote tampering for the upcoming contests, it scheduled a December meeting to review these concerns about competition rules.
During the Thursday meeting, participants favored changes to the rules for competing nations but turned down a proposal to vote on expelling Israel. As reported, 738 members opted not to proceed with an expulsion vote, while 264 favored it and 120 abstained. This was seen as a significant win for those wanting Israel to remain in the contest.
The EBU made it clear that all members wishing to participate in the 2026 Eurovision, who agree to the updated rules, are eligible to do so.
Parties noted they had consented to avoid voting on expulsions in exchange for key changes to competition rules, which include:
The limit for votes per person is now set at 10 instead of 20. The EBU will also “discourage” governmental backing for contestants and will bar participants from coordinating with any such campaigns. The professional jury will reconvene alongside the public vote during the semi-final round.
Eurovision is known as the largest music event globally, with 166 million viewers last year. While primarily European countries participate, the competition allows any nation affiliated with the EBU to join, meaning places like Israel and Australia can compete as well. It’s estimated that around 100,000 people contributed directly through performances.
Israel has participated in Eurovision since 1973, securing four victories, the latest being in 2018. Efforts to exclude Israel have gained traction, especially following recent events, with critics frequently pointing to the expulsion of Russia and Belarus after their actions in Ukraine as a precedent. However, the situations differ; Israel faced an invasion rather than being an aggressor.
One prominent voice against Israel’s participation is Austrian opera singer JJ (Johannes Pietsch), the winner of the 2025 contest. He expressed disappointment about Israel’s continued involvement, wishing for the next Eurovision to be hosted in Vienna without it.
Austria has selected Vienna as the host city for 2026 but will boycott Eurovision if Israel is involved. Other countries like Germany and Ukraine have indicated they might reconsider their participation if Israel is expelled.
Looking ahead, the EBU plans to hold an extraordinary meeting in November regarding Israel’s status for the 2025 contest amid its rising popularity. Experts had predicted the vote might lead to Israel’s exclusion, given pressure from prominent donor countries. however, a quick peace deal brokered by former President Donald Trump altered the dynamics substantially, leading the EBU to cancel the previously planned conference on the exclusion.
The board acknowledged the need for open dialogue regarding the 2026 contest, deciding to make this a topic for their winter meeting rather than an extraordinary one beforehand.
As a result of Israel’s continued participation, several nations, including Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia, have announced their intention to boycott Eurovision 2026. Spain, a top financial contributor, has had a poor recent history in the contest.
The situation involving the Netherlands is notable, particularly following significant controversy at Eurovision 2024. They disqualified an artist shortly after he qualified for the grand final, leading to various rumors and accusations about favoritism towards an Israeli contestant. The EBU clarified that the incident was unrelated to any nationality.
Meanwhile, Ireland, despite historically holding more Eurovision titles than all but Sweden, has struggled in recent years. Their most recent notable entry faced backlash due to its stance on the contest’s dynamics.
The EBU is anticipated to announce the complete list of competitors for the upcoming Eurovision by Christmas. So far, four countries have confirmed their boycotts against Israel, along with three which did not participate in 2025 indicating similar stances.
