From European Broadcasting Union to vote in November on Israel’s future at Eurovision
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAmy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel
The members of the European Broadcasting Union are slated to hold a vote in early November to decide whether Israel should be allowed to participate in the 2026 Eurovision, slated to be held in Vienna, as a growing chorus of countries calls for the Jewish state to be kicked out due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
A letter sent today by the EBU to its members, first published by the Austrian Krone newspaper, notes an “unprecedented diversity of views” on the topic of Israel’s participation, after EBU vice president Petr Dvorak held discussions on the issue with member broadcasters over the past two months. Following those discussions, the EBU “recognized that it would not be possible to reach a consensual position on KAN’s participation,” the letter reads.
Since it has “never faced a divisive situation like this before,” the letter continues, the EBU board members “agreed that this question merited a broader democratic basis for a decision, whereby all members should be given a voice,” scheduling such a vote for early November, ahead of a December deadline for countries to determine their participation.
In response, Israel’s Kan public broadcaster issues a statement expressing “hope that the Eurovision Song Contest will continue to maintain its cultural and apolitical character.” It notes that the competition has “stood as a symbol of unity, solidarity and fellowship,” and warns that booting Israel from the contest “could be a step with wide-ranging implications,” without elaborating.
Kan points out that the EBU rules “clearly state that extraordinary decisions of this type require a majority of no less than 75% of the participants in the General Assembly.”
Asked by The Times of Israel if a supermajority of its 68 members would be required to kick Israel out of the contest, the EBU confirmed an online vote scheduled for early November but said it had “nothing further to add at this time.”
Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland have all said that they will drop out of next year’s Eurovision if Israel is allowed to compete, and a number of other countries have threatened to follow suit. France, Germany, Austria and Australia have rejected the boycott calls.
The Times of Israel Community.