Eurovision delays Israel participation vote to December

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has postponed its decision on whether Israel will participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, following what it described as “developments in the Middle East” and the current Gaza ceasefire, as reported by The New Arab plus agencies on October 13th.

The EBU had planned to hold an online vote in November after several European nations, including Spain, Ireland, and Iceland, threatened to boycott the 2026 contest in Vienna if Israel were allowed to compete, due to the war in Gaza.

The annual Eurovision Song Contest remains one of the world’s most-watched live television events, drawing around 166 million viewers across 37 countries during the 2025 competition in Basel, Switzerland.

In a statement released on October 13th, the EBU confirmed that instead of the planned November session, the matter would be addressed during its regular winter general assembly in December.

“In the light of recent developments in the Middle East, the EBU’s executive board (meeting on October 13) agreed there was a clear need to organise an open and in-person discussion among its members on the issue of participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026,” the EBU said. “Consequently, the board agreed to put the issue on the agenda of its ordinary winter general assembly, which will be taking place in December, rather than organising an extraordinary session in advance.”

The decision comes as the last surviving Israeli hostages were returned from Gaza under a ceasefire deal mediated by US President Donald Trump, which also saw a number of Palestinian prisoners freed.

Founded in 1950, the EBU is the world’s largest public service media alliance, representing 113 organisations in 56 countries.

Spain has already declared it will boycott next year’s contest if Israel takes part, with other countries such as Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands making similar threats. Belgium, Sweden, and Finland have also indicated they are considering the move.

Austria, the 2026 host nation, has rejected the boycott calls as “dumb and pointless”, while Germany accused several countries of politicising a cultural event. The controversy echoes recent tensions surrounding Israel’s Gaza offensive.

The past two Eurovision editions were also marked by protests over Israel’s participation. Pro-Palestinian protests erupted in Malmö, Sweden, last year, and again in Basel last May, drawing thousands of activists calling for Israel’s exclusion.

The EBU has defended Israel’s inclusion, pointing out that its public broadcaster, KAN, has been a long-standing member.

Austria’s JJ (Johannes Pietsch) won the 2025 contest with “Wasted Love”, a dramatic blend of techno and opera that secured Austria the right to host the 70th edition in Vienna.

Israel’s entrant, Yuval Raphael, finished second. She was a survivor of the October 7th 2023 Hamas attack at an Israeli music festival that ignited the Gaza war.

As Europe debates Israel’s presence on the Eurovision stage, the postponement underscores how cultural diplomacy continues to mirror political divides across the continent, which reveals how the Gaza war is reshaping European cultural politics.

The New Arab via AFP and Reuters, Maghrebi.org