The organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have postponed a vote regarding Israel’s participation in the 2026 event due to “recent developments in the Middle East.” The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had planned for a virtual meeting in November to discuss Israel’s involvement but has now opted to address the matter during an in-person meeting in December. It remains unclear whether a vote will take place during that meeting.
Israel’s participation has faced opposition from various countries amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Recently, a ceasefire led to the release of all 20 living Israeli hostages by Hamas, in exchange for the return of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, raising questions about the broader political climate.
The EBU’s executive board stated that an open discussion among its members was necessary in light of the situation, which led to the decision to include Israel’s participation on the agenda of its winter general assembly. This assembly will convene in December, replacing the earlier planned extraordinary session. Previously, the EBU expressed intentions to invite 68 member countries to share their views on the matter.
The Austrian national broadcaster, ORF, which is set to host the contest, welcomed the EBU’s decision. Meanwhile, several countries, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands, have indicated they might consider boycotting the contest if Israel is allowed to participate. The Dutch broadcaster AvroTros has stated its position will remain unchanged even if a ceasefire occurs.
The BBC has reached out to Israel’s national broadcaster, Kan, for comments regarding the situation. In September, Kan had argued for Israel’s continued participation, citing its longstanding presence and success in the competition, including a second-place finish in the most recent Eurovision event in May.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yl89jp538o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss