France and Australia will see you at Eurovision 2026.
Both nations have recently confirmed their participation for the 70th anniversary of the contest taking place in Vienna.
They will not withdraw over Israel’s possible presence at the event.
France
In a post on their official Eurovision Instagram page, state broadcaster France Télévisions announced its intention to send a delegation to the song contest next year.
“France Télévisions is pleased to confirm its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on May 16 in Vienna, alongside fellow public service media members of the EBU.
“The group reaffirms its support for musical creation, to artists, and for this unique event.”
View this post on Instagram
Australia
In a statement sent to TV Tonight, a spokesperson from SBS confirmed that Australia would be present at Eurovision 2026:
“SBS has been broadcasting the Eurovision song contest for over 40 years, sharing this global celebration of diversity and inclusion with all Australians.
“SBS intends to continue this tradition with its participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
“The decision regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision will be made by the EBU over the coming months.”
View this post on Instagram
The question of who’s in and who’s out has gained a lot of attention over the past week.
Slovenia, Ireland, Netherlands and Spain have all declared they will withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel competes. Officials in Iceland have suggested they could likely follow suit.
The broadcasters from these nations have stated that participation alongside Israel would be “unconscionable” given: the ongoing loss of lives in Gaza, where more than 65,000 people have died as a result of Israeli attacks since October 2023; the targeted killing of journalists and deliberate exclusion of independent international reporting in the region; proven interference by the Israeli government during Eurovision 2025.
The United Nations has confirmed famine in Gaza as a result of Israel’s policies, and its commission of inquiry declared Israel has committed genocide in the region.
UEFA’s executive committee will discuss and vote on suspending and even expelling Israel from all European football competitions tomorrow or on Tuesday and as things look now, it’s a ‘slam dunk’, so this is going to be the turning point or the domino effect that will make Israel’s future at Eurovision 2026 and beyond bleak than ever before and if you ask me, this will ‘save’ Israel in the long run because it will facilitate the downfall of a brutal, corrupt and authoritarian war criminal and his cronies.
It’s 2020 and the shock announcement of Eurovision being canceled over the Covid pandemic is still fresh in our minds. While this was unavoidable due to the restrictions imposed at that time and the rising number of cases, here we are in late 2025 where many of the comments here suggest that all countries should take the high moral ground right now or should have even earlier and proactively preempt the 2026 contest unless a certain condition is met. What people fail to understand is that taking the virtue signaling can actually work like a boomerang. You can throw Moroccanoil,… Read more »
When will the REAL question be put on the table? Namely: when will Moroccanoil (a brand owned by Israelis) no longer be the number one sponsor of the competition? Because if Israel is still there, it’s certainly because Moroccanoil is heavily influencing the decision. It’s even unbelievable that the EBU has let the situation deteriorate because of this; they should have already been looking for other sponsors a long time ago.
it’s never been proven there’s a connection. Between Moroccanoil’s sponsorship to Israel’s participation in 2024 and 2025. Besides, Moroccanoil’s contract with the EBU was a multi-year contract long before the war broke out. It ends after 2026 and whether renewed or not is entirely based on commercial, financial and public image aspects. Morrccanoil’s headquarters are in New York. Just because it was founded in Israel doesn’t make it a culprit in any devious scheme.
We need four great pizzas, which all comes running to Isranel, and decides to say: Hello. We are the Volkswagen. We are here to help with pieces of peace. That’s the only way to avoid an awkward May in deep Austria next year.
All honesty, i just don’t care to watch if Israel is in it. But just my preference
As if France couldn’t get more unpopular, given the current state of their gov’t.
Shame on France !
And not Australia or Danmark? Be equal. In any case, it’s too easy to shift the shame onto other countries when THE problem is Israel’s participation.
I’m losing more hope by the day that Israel will be excluded and I fear the contest may move forward and will just miss Ireland, Slovenia, Netherlands and Spain. But I’m at peace with it. Have your silly “non-political contest” if you want that way. I’m proud of my country for standing up and not end up looking like hypocrites begging for Russia to be excluded but being spineless when it comes to Israel
I’m looking forward to having a nice Eurovision after two years of certain countries causing a ton of drama over Israel.
We will probably see Israel win on sympathy votes, which is not ideal, but oh well, that’s the consequence of bullying.
All they had to do was nothing, Israel would be somewhere around 10th place and no one would care.
“All they had to do was nothing” um which government manipulated the televote two years in a row and almost won????
Good for you. Enjoy it from the comfort of your sofa
How do Australia get to confirm their participation?
How long does this bloody special invitation last?
I, as a citizen who funds the EBU, am officially UNinviting them.
You’re not in the position to do so.
Of course I am. The EBU is a union of public broadcasters. I am a member of the public.
Can I join in too?
We’ve been tricked and the Aussies have overstayed their welcome.
Right because your entire tax contributions go exclusively to the EBU and not all the other government funded public services paid for by tax. You sound like a Karen demanding to speak to the manager.
My brain can’t reconcile how a broadcaster can lead with stories of genocide, outrage, and protest; show burning and broken bodies on their feed, and then happily go along with the inclusion (or not) of the state commiting these crimes against humanity (or passing the buck and kicking the bucket down the road to the union they’re a member of), all spouting the same tired ‘its a place to come together man’. Are we that weak, or so socially damaged we can’t say NOPE!!!
Well said Fergal. Mhaith a fear!
Australia are NOT a member of the union, though. They should have no say.
When Cyprus is protesting against Turkey and had some songs penned about the Cypriot genocide caused by Turkey which still occupied half of the country, an EU member state, Cyprus was asked not to politicize the event and other countries never supported or asked Turkey to be excluded, with the one and only exception of Greece once. All the other countries never spoke against Turkey, and all these countries (Spain and co) would welcome Turkey anytime with open arms.
And half of Cyprus still being occupied by Turkey but Spain and Co would welcome Turkey anytime
I don’t know if it’s the right decision to remain neutral given the situation…
I can understand that some countries don’t want to add to the controversy, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t concerned about what’s happening, I hope… They don’t want to express their concerns publicly so as not to add to the tension….I hope.
I would love more explication from these broadcasters.
*more explanation
Being ‘neutral’ is a political choice.
Everything is political in our sick world right now unfortunately.
Not at all Surprised. But not a good look for these countries.
Anyways. Get Israel out now.
Thanks
Hope you flop again australia, and hope you finish last place france
would not be a surprise, looking at the lousy songs they had last year …
By this logic you should hope everyone who will participate to finish last ?
Also, Louane was done dirty by the public vote. It should have been New Louane will rise with that almost 300 score. And I loved that staging! It was beautiful. Australia was treated right this year though.
A French win would have been so lovely last year. Especially with Céline Dion in attendance. I was very sad to read that she actually WAS in Basel, ready to perform her 1988 winner, until her health got in the way at the last minute.
You mean “this year”?
Last “season”, last “contest”… whatever you want to call it, Jonny.
Fake news
Currently, Vianney is in a good position to represent France. It’s not official yet. He knows the competition a little, he wrote songs for candidates of “Destination Eurovision” or even that of Mentissa who tried to represent Belgium last year. Vianney is very well known in France, he is in the guitar-vocal style, he also has an audience in Switzerland and Belgium. He speaks English very well and that will be useful for interviews. But he will have to convince those who don’t know him.
I was laughing, did the French think she was a good choice? No, very minimal effort. Italy has always brought good songs to Eurovision and somehow crooked France has won more, but I’m not surprised. Countries like Belgium, Monaco, Luxembourg and so on have always given them the opportunity to win with minimal effort and friendly voting! Wiwibloggs users should watch out, and listen to some real music. Such as Lucio Corsi who has a career, this woman perhaps has only the address to the nearest buffet.
I feel like this is a situation where leaving it to others to decide is the wrong move and weakens the clear goal that needs to happen. Disappointing, especially since Macron at least made some moves in the right direction.
Shame on them both, at least put the decision on hold for the moment.
I was thinking the same thing. There was no need to issue a press release at this time. And if they thought there was, why not say the was ‘ongoing discussions on the matter’. That’s what the EBU does whenever something comes up.