EBU cancels vote to boot Israel from Eurovision following Israel-Hamas ceasefire
The vote on Israel’s participation was proposed because several countries that take part in Eurovision, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Iceland.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced Monday that it’s changing its tune when it comes to the planned vote of its general assembly about kicking Israel out of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 – the vote has been cancelled.
The vote on Israel’s participation was proposed because several countries that take part in Eurovision, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Iceland. These had threatened to boycott the competition if Israel were allowed to compete because of the war in Gaza.
Spain one of the ‘big five’
Spain’s decision was especially significant because it is one of Eurovision’s “big five” sponsors; the others are France, Italy, Germany, and the UK.
The vote had been planned for December but was moved up recently to November. Eurovision is set to take place in Vienna in 2026, but several Austrian officials said last week that if Israel was booted from the contest, they would not host the glitzy musical extravaganza, a decision that could have cost Austria 40 million Euros in penalties.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said recently that Germany should bow out if Israel is excluded and called the discussion of Israel’s participation “a scandal.”
Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, performs ”New Day Will Rise”, during the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/DENIS BALIBOUSE)
The decision to cancel the vote following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas may have put the issue to rest, at least as far as the EBU, the body that sponsors Eurovision, is concerned.
Ynet reported, “In recent weeks, Israeli officials have worked behind the scenes with European countries and directly with the EBU to block Israel’s removal. President Isaac Herzog established a special team at the President’s Residence and within the public broadcaster, led by CEO Golan Yochpaz and attorney Ayala Mizrahi.”
It seems that these diplomatic efforts have been successful.
Since the Hamas attack and the outbreak of the war, European broadcasters and performers have been calling for Israel not to be allowed to take part.
These calls intensified since, despite protests, threats, and boos, Israel’s past two contestants have done extremely well at Eurovision. Eden Golan, in 2024, came in fifth overall and second in the audience voting, and Yuval Raphael, in 2025, came in second overall and first in the audience voting. Israel has won Eurovision four times since it began participating in 1973.
