For weeks, the Eurovision Song Contest has been embroiled in intense debate over Israel’s potential participation in next year’s competition, given the escalating humanitarian crisis linked to its military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Several national broadcasters, including those from Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands, have publicly stated their intent to withdraw from the contest if Israel takes part.
In response, other nations, notably next year’s host, Austria, have urged against such drastic boycotts.
Behind the scenes, Eurovision organizers have been diligently trying to find a non-confrontational solution to this escalating diplomatic challenge.
Now, a decisive moment is approaching.
On Thursday, the board of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the body responsible for organizing the celebrated event, announced via email that it would convene an extraordinary general meeting in early November. During this meeting, member broadcasters will vote on whether Israel’s participation will be permitted.
No further details were provided by a Eurovision spokesman.
In a message to members, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, the EBU’s president, acknowledged that the organization had “never faced a divisive situation like this before.”
Since its inception in 1956, Eurovision has proudly presented itself as an apolitical spectacle, a platform for nations to set aside their differences and unite through music. However, in the two years following the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza after the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israel’s presence at Eurovision has frequently overshadowed the musical event itself.
Calls for Israel’s exclusion have been voiced by artists, and numerous public demonstrations have taken place. Eurovision enthusiasts also criticized the song submitted by Israel’s broadcaster in 2024, perceiving it as a thinly veiled commentary on the Gaza conflict. Consequently, the contest’s organizers mandated changes to the lyrics.
At this year’s grand final in Basel, Switzerland, Israel achieved a second-place finish, largely due to its representative, Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas attack, securing the highest public vote. It was only in the competition’s final moments that Austria’s contestant surged ahead to claim victory.
Following the event, some nations raised concerns that the Israeli government had attempted to influence the voting. This allegedly involved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and official Israeli social media accounts actively encouraging voting, and the Israeli Government Advertising Agency, operating under the prime minister’s office, purchasing YouTube advertisements to boost votes.
In July, EBU members convened to discuss Israel’s participation but concluded without a firm decision. Instead, an expert was tasked with gathering member viewpoints for a broader discussion at the general assembly in December.
Yet, the pressure for immediate action has intensified in recent weeks. On September 11, RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster, issued a statement declaring that it would “not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if the participation of Israel goes ahead.”
Ireland, having won Eurovision seven times, shares the distinction of being the competition’s most successful nation alongside Sweden.
“RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza,” the statement affirmed. It further expressed the broadcaster’s “deep concern by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, and the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”
Around the same time, the Dutch national broadcaster also announced its intention to withdraw if Israel competed, a stance echoed by RTVE in Spain.
José Pablo López, the president of RTVE, stated in an interview with the broadcaster that it was inaccurate for Eurovision organizers to portray the event as apolitical. “We are all aware that the contest carries significant political implications,” he remarked. “The Israeli government is equally aware of this fact and leverages the event on the international stage.”
He emphasized, “We consider it essential to speak out against what is happening in Gaza and to take a visible, meaningful stand.”
A spokeswoman for KAN, Israel’s public broadcaster, released a statement asserting the country’s right to participate.
“There is no reason why Israel should not continue to play a meaningful role in this major cultural event, which must remain a celebration of music and creativity, and not become politicized,” KAN declared. “Looking ahead, Kan is preparing to select Israel’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria.”
Lawmakers are now also entering the discussion. This month, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Austria’s foreign minister, sent letters to her counterparts in six nations considering a boycott, urging them to reconsider.
“I firmly believe that the Eurovision Song Contest in particular — and the arts in general — are not the appropriate arenas for sanctions,” she stated. “Excluding Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest or boycotting the event would neither ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor contribute to finding a sustainable political solution.”