Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Vienna / ESC
A vote among European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members will take place in early November to determine whether Israel will be allowed to participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
The news comes after several participating Eurovision countries announced that they would withdraw, or consider withdrawing, from the contest if the four-time winners are allowed to compete in Vienna next May.
The concerns stem from Israel’s ongoing military action in Palestine – in response to a 2023 terrorist attack by extremist group Hamas – that has left more than 66,000 Palestinians dead, many of them children.
Statements from key broadcasters – including Israel’s KAN – follow below:
Ireland (RTÉ)
“It is RTÉ’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU’s decision is made.
“RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza. RTÉ is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”
Slovenia (RTVSLO)
“The final decision on participation will be made no later than the adoption of the annual plan (PPN for 2026). By that time, it should be clear whether the EBU will reach a decision regarding Israel’s participation and whether it will consider the comments of several EBU members concerning the transparency of voting. At that point, it will be decided whether RTVSLO still wishes to participate in the competition.
“At the EBU General Assembly, which took place in the beginning of July in London, RTVSLO shared its position that in case Israel was to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, RTVSLO would not participate due to the genocide in Gaza. RTVSLO believes that it is not only public broadcasters—such as Israel’s KAN, which faces challenges with ruling politics in the country—that participate in Eurovision, but countries themselves. For example, Belgium and Germany do not have separate representatives for each public broadcaster (RTBF and VRT, or ZDF and ARD), but a single joint representative that represents the country as a whole. The EBU is currently in discussions with its members regarding Israel’s potential participation in the upcoming contest.”
Spain (RTVE)
“Spain will not participate in the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna if Israel continues to participate in the music festival while the massacre in Gaza persists . This was agreed by the RTVE Board of Directors on Tuesday, at the proposal of its president, José Pablo López. In this case, RTVE will not broadcast the competition either. Thus, Spain joins the position of Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands and becomes the first of the so-called ‘Big Five’ countries to take this decision.
The agreement was approved by an absolute majority of the Corporation’s governing body, which represents the country’s main parties. Ten votes were in favour, four against (the councilors, nominated by the PP), and one abstention from the councilor, nominated by Junts.”
Netherlands (AVROTROS)
“Human suffering, the suppression of press freedom and political interference are at odds with the values of public broadcasting.
“In recent months, AVROTROS has engaged in regular consultations with the EBU and other European public broadcasters regarding the future and nature of the Eurovision Song Contest. These discussions have also given extensive consideration to whether Israel can be represented under the current circumstances.
“The Eurovision Song Contest was founded in 1956 to bring people together after a period of deep division and war. Since its inception seventy years ago, music has been at the heart of the Contest as a unifying force, with peace, equality, and respect as its core values.
“AVROTROS can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza. The broadcaster also expresses deep concern about the serious erosion of press freedom: the deliberate exclusion of independent international reporting and the many casualties among journalists. In addition, there is proven evidence of interference by the Israeli government during the most recent edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, in which the event was used as a political instrument. This runs counter to the apolitical nature of the Contest. These circumstances are incompatible with the values represented by AVROTROS as a public broadcaster.
“The broadcaster has therefore decided that participation by AVROTROS in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will not be possible as long as Israel is admitted by the EBU. Should the EBU decide not to admit Israel, AVROTROS will gladly take part next year. Pending that decision, all preparations will for the time being continue as planned.”
Iceland (RÚV)
“I think it is likely that if there is no change in EBU’s position and it does not respond to these voices of concern coming from us, from Spain and Slovenia and others, then that will call for reactions from these broadcasters. But let’s just wait and see.
“We have serious doubts about the conduct of both the Israeli public broadcaster and the Israeli government when it comes to Eurovision, and we have expressed these concerns within the EBU, that the rules of the competition are being broken.”
Sweden (SVT)
“Many people want to know where SVT stands. SVT is independent – that is one of our cornerstones. We do not take a political position. It is we and no one else who make decisions about our participation in Eurovision and the choices we make are not interpreted as a position for or against any other country’s public service broadcaster or for or against any other country’s participation.
“We understand that many people want an immediate answer to what SVT will do and there are many opinions about what is the right path. SVT’s participation is conditional on the basic conditions being in place. We will therefore spend time listening to the EBU and other members. It is to show respect for both a difficult issue and a beautiful idea of a cultural arena that wants to unite people through music.”
Israel (KAN)
“Kan, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, expresses its firm hope that the Eurovision Song Contest will continue to uphold its cultural and non-political identity.
“The potential disqualification of Israel’s public broadcaster KAN – one of the contest’s long-standing, popular, and successful participants – would be especially troubling ahead of the 70th edition of the song contest, which was founded as a symbol of unity, solidarity, and fellowship. Any such move could have wide-ranging implications for the competition and the values for which the EBU stands.
“The EBU Statutes stipulate for a good reason that extraordinary decisions of this kind require a 75% majority of the General Assembly – an exceptional majority. We are confident that the EBU will safeguard the contest’s professional, cultural, and non-political character as it marks the historic 70 years milestone of uniting by music.”
