Eurovision organisers confirm plan to hold vote over Israel’s participation
Israel came second during the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. (Getty)
Israel came second during the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. (Getty)
The Eurovision Song Contest’s organisers have agreed to hold a vote on whether Israel should be allowed to participate in the next annual song competition.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that its 68 member countries will hold a vote at the general assembly in November this year to decide whether Israel can continue to participate in the international song contest.
Numerous countries have already threatened to withdraw from the 2026 competition if Israel is allowed to compete, including Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Earllier this month, Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ released a statement explaining that a set of countries held a meeting in July expressing “concerns” about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
As of 17 September, at least 66,414 Palestinians and 1,983 Israelis have been reported killed since Israel began bombing the coastal region in retaliation to the October 7 attacks that took place in 2023.
Several human rights groups have condemned Israel’s continued blockade of humanitarian aid such as food and medical supplies to the Gaza strip despite the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPCS) declaring a famine in parts of Gaza.
The EBU confirmed on Friday (26 September) that all 68 member countries would vote on whether to allow the country to participate in future Eurovision contests, including countries that don’t participate such as Tunisia, Egypt, Turkiye, Algeria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Countries in opposition to Israel’s participation have said their continued association with the contest would be “unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza.”
Dutch broadcaster, Avrotros, said it too could no longer justify its inclusion in the contests given the “ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza.”
In the UK, BBC director-general Tim Davie said he was “aware of the concerns” but did not state his position on the boycott.
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