European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members are to hold a vote in November that will determine Israel‘s participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
The EBU has been under growing pressure to expel Israeli public broadcaster Kan from the music competition over the nation’s actions in Gaza. Among those taking a strong stance is Ireland’s RTÉ, which said it would not compete in Eurovision 2026 if Israel is present in Vienna, Austria.
In a letter to members, EBU president Delphine Ernotte-Cunci said there was an “unprecedented diversity of views” on Israel’s participation, which required a “broader democratic basis for a decision.”
In a statement, the EBU added: “We can confirm that a letter has been sent from the executive board of the European Broadcasting Union to directors general of all our members informing them that a vote on participation in the Eurovision song contest 2026 will take place at an extraordinary meeting of the EBU’s general assembly to be held online in early November.”
Kan said it hopes the Eurovision Song Contest “will continue to uphold its cultural and non-political identity.”
It continued: “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 milstone of uniting by music.”
The BBC, one of the EBU’s major backers, declined to comment beyond a statement issued earlier this month, which said: “We are aware of the various views and concerns which have been expressed in recent days in relation to next year’s Eurovision.
“At this stage, we will continue to be part of the discussions, led by the European Broadcasting Union, with other members and broadcasters. Eurovision has never been led by politics, it has been – and is – a celebration of music and culture that brings people together from across the world.”
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