The Eurovision Song Contest organizers have decided to postpone the vote regarding Israel’s participation in the event next year. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) cited recent developments in the Middle East as the reason for canceling the virtual meeting that was initially set for November.
Instead, the EBU plans to address Israel’s involvement at a face-to-face gathering in December, without clarifying whether a vote will still occur. This decision follows a ceasefire in Gaza on October 10, following a US-brokered agreement between Israel and Hamas, with the future stages of the deal remaining uncertain.
The release of the last 20 Israeli hostages by Hamas on Monday, in exchange for nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners, including 1700 held without charge, was reported by The Guardian. The EBU explained that an open discussion among its members on Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is necessary due to recent events in the Middle East. This discussion will now take place during the ordinary winter general assembly in December, rather than an extraordinary session.
The EBU had previously announced plans to seek input from 68 member countries on Israel’s participation at a general assembly meeting in November. Several nations, including Ireland, Spain, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, had expressed intentions to boycott the competition if Israel remained in the lineup.
In a statement, RTE declared in September that Ireland would not join the 2026 Eurovision contest should Israel participate, citing ongoing conflicts in Gaza. Spain also confirmed its non-participation if Israel takes part, condemning the situation in Gaza as a genocide.
Amnesty International labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide in December 2024, a stance supported by leading genocide scholars who found Israel’s actions align with the UN’s genocide definition.