Israel Can Compete in Eurovision 2026, Organizers Say

Israel can compete in the 2026 Eurovision contest after organizers decided not to hold a vote about whether or not to disqualify the country. “A large majority of Members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place,” the European Broadcasting Union, a group of broadcasters that air the contest in 56 countries, said in a statement, according to CNN.

The organizers had met in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday to discuss how to address Israel’s role in the competition after some members said they would boycott the event if the country, embroiled in a war with Gaza since 2023, was allowed to compete. Ultimately, EBU members “backed a set of targeted changes to the Eurovision Song Contest rules designed to reinforce trust, transparency and the neutrality of the event.” The new rules aim to reduce the roles of governments and third parties in influencing voting outcomes; some broadcasters accused Israel of using those methods to rally behind its 2025 competitor, Yuval Raphael.

Nevertheless, several countries have decided to boycott the event over the war. Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have chosen not to compete now that Israel qualifies, according to the BBC. Ireland’s RTÉ released a statement saying it felt “participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”

Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, thanked the EBU for allowing his country into the competition. He called the decision on social media “an appreciated gesture of solidarity, brotherhood, and cooperation, symbolizing a victory over those who seek to silence Israel and spread hatred.”

The Creative Community for Peace, a nonprofit organization opposed to a cultural boycott of Israel, issued a statement saying the EBU “made the right decision.” Via the CCFP, Kiss vocalist-bassist Gene Simmons said, “Those advocating to exclude Israelis from Eurovision don’t move the needle toward peace—they only further divide the world.” Industry exec Scooter Braun said, via the CCFP, “Artists should never be discriminated against for who they are, who they love, or where they’re born.”

Some countries have yet to announce an opinion on the matter. Iceland and Belgium had not decided whether or not they would participate, according to the BBC, which itself said it had not decided yet whether or not it would compete. Germany, CNN reports, is backing Israel.

The Eurovision Song Contest, launched in 1956, last year drew an estimated 166 million viewers worldwide. The 2026 competition will be held in May in Vienna, Austria.