Israel will be permitted to take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed on Thursday, triggering backlash from several member states and public broadcasters.
Despite expectations of a vote on Israel's participation, no such decision was made during the EBU’s general assembly. Instead, members approved rule changes intended to reduce political influence and strengthen voting transparency, amid concerns about government-directed campaigns during recent contests.
Israel's state broadcaster announced it would take part following the EBU statement. Finland’s national broadcaster Yle also confirmed preparations for participation, joining Sweden, Norway, and Denmark in remaining committed to the competition.
In contrast, four countries, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, said they would not participate if Israel remains in the line-up.
In a statement, Israel’s president Isaac Herzog welcomed the EBU decision and said Eurovision should continue to promote cultural exchange and friendship among nations.
The backlash stems from Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza. A report by the United Nations concluded that Israel's war amounts to genocide, fuelling calls for exclusion from cultural events such as Eurovision. The EBU has repeatedly stated that the contest is a non-political event, a position critics argue is no longer sustainable.
The EBU’s new rules aim to curb vote manipulation and campaign interference. These include limiting the number of votes from individual viewers, introducing expert juries in the semi-finals, expanding jury representation to include younger members, and banning coordinated promotional campaigns by third parties.
The changes follow findings from the EBU’s internal research unit, Spotlight, which concluded that Israel benefited from a government-driven mobilisation of votes in the 2025 competition. The rule adjustments are intended to prevent similar influence in future contests.
The 2026 contest is scheduled to take place in Austria, following last year’s competition in Basel. The EBU has requested member broadcasters formally confirm participation in the coming weeks.
All participants will be required to agree to the new rules to remain eligible.
HT
