Israel Confirmed for Eurovision 2026: Four Countries Immediately Quit Following the Historic Vote

Geneva Decides: Israel to Compete in Vienna

The General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in Geneva concluded a heated and protracted debate today (Thursday), confirming that Israel will participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest set to take place in Vienna. This decision draws a line under months of intense controversy, where several nations leveraged the war in Gaza and allegations of voting manipulation, all previously dismissed by the EBU, to demand Israel's expulsion.

The ruling immediately prompted a wave of withdrawals. The Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia officially announced their boycott of the upcoming competition, with anticipation now centering on Belgium, Portugal, and Iceland, who are expected to make their decisions in the coming days. Conversely, Finland, a country previously critical of Israeli participation, confirmed it would send a representative following the EBU’s approval of new competition rules.

The Case Against Cultural Boycott

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) delegation, including CEO Golan Yochpaz and legal representative Adv. Ayala Mizrahi, strongly defended Israel’s participation, arguing that Kan had not violated any competition rules.

"This is not merely a move to disqualify Kan from Eurovision, it is a full-fledged cultural boycott," Yochpaz stated during the debate. "A boycott that could begin today with the disqualification of Kan, and there is no telling where it will end or who else it will harm." He challenged the EBU members: "Are media organizations and journalistic systems prepared to endorse a cultural boycott? Are EBU members willing to assist in damaging freedom of expression and freedom of creation?" The delegates emphasized that Kan was proud of its successful entries and had not engaged in any illicit campaigns to influence results.

During the discussion, countries like Sweden and the United Kingdom called on all nations to avoid politicizing the event and maintain its neutral nature. Significantly, Ukraine openly opposed putting the Israeli matter to a vote, stressing that the case of Israel is not comparable to that of Russia, which was ostracized following its invasion of Ukraine.

Divisive Vote and Rules Overhaul

Spanish media reports indicated that eight countries, including Slovenia, Spain, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Iceland, Turkey, and Algeria, attempted to force a secret ballot to secure Israel’s removal, but the attempt failed. In the final vote, 738 representatives approved the EBU's new rules, while 256 opposed them, favouring a vote on Israel’s disqualification.

The EBU's decision was ultimately a vote of confidence in their own reforms, which were clearly formulated in response to the anti-Israel pressure. These rule changes include:

The EBU stated that member nations "expressed clear support for reforms designed to strengthen confidence and maintain the neutrality of the Eurovision competition in a way that allows the participation of all member countries."

The minister of culture, Miki Zohar, thanked the supporting partners, saying, "Music connects people and countries," and declared that "the people of Israel will continue to create, connect, and light up the world." This decision reaffirms Israel's fundamental right as a state to participate in international cultural events, a right that remains steadfast against the wave of politically motivated cultural boycotts.