In recent weeks one question has dominated discussions about the Eurovision Song Contest: Will Israel be allowed to participate in the 2026 edition? Well the EBU has decided to bring the matter to a head and will stage a vote among member broadcasters in early November.
Ms. Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, the president of the European Broadcasting Union, informed member broadcasters on Thursday, September 25. Within minutes a leaked grab of the e-mail was circulating on social media. We have now confirmed with two delegations that the letter is in fact real. As such, we are publishing it below.
EBU members will vote on Israel’s Eurovision 2026 participation (STATEMENT)
Dear friends and colleagues,
The Executive Board has met today with former EBU Vice-President Petr Dvorák to discuss the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
Following up on the discussion that took place at the EBU Summer General Assembly in London, Petr presented his report to the Board based on the feedback he had received from meeting with Members.
The Executive Board acknowledged that there is an unprecedented diversity of views concerning KAN’s participation among EBU Members.
The Board believes that the Union stands for inclusiveness and an open cultural dialogue reflecting the values of Public Service Media.
Nevertheless, the Board recognized that it would not be possible to reach consensual position on KAN’s participation.
Given that the Union has never faced a divisive situation like this before, the Board agreed that this question merited a broader democratic basis for a decision, whereby all Members should be given a voice.
Consequently, the Board decided to organize an extraordinary session of the General Assembly that would take place online in early November for Members to vote on the question of participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
The formal letter convening this extraordinary session, with further details, will be sent to you next week.
How has Israel responded?
In a statement published on the Kan web site, the Israeli broadcaster said:
“The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation expresses hope that the Eurovision Song Contest will continue to maintain its cultural and political character. The removal of Israel’s public broadcasting body, one of the veteran, most popular and successful competitors throughout the decades of the competition, and especially on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Eurovision, which stands as a symbol of cooperation, kindness and brotherhood, could be a step with significant consequences.”
“It is not for nothing that the EBU regulations clearly state that exceptional decisions of this type require a majority of no less than 75% of the participants in the general assembly. We are convinced that the European Broadcasting Union will continue to maintain the apolitical, professional and cultural nature of the competition.”
Contrary to Kan’s statement, the EBU has confirmed to The Times of Israel that the vote will be decided by a simple majority — i.e. at least 51% need to vote in favour of a certain outcome.
How might EBU member countries vote about Israel’s participation?
Based on recent statements, it is safe to say that broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and The Netherlands will vote to remove Israel. You’ll recall that each of these broadcasters issued statements confirming that they will withdraw from the song contest if Israel participates.
Slovenia and Iceland have also made strong statements, suggesting to many observers that they too will withdraw. That would seem to align them with the previously named broadcasters.
The broadcasters in France and Australia, on the other hand, have issued statements that confirm they will participate in Vienna regardless of whether Israel is there or not. Their statements suggest they will vote against excluding Israel.
Australia’s SBS described Eurovision as a celebration of diverse voices and said it “intends to continue this tradition with its participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.” France Télévisions said it “reaffirms its support for musical creation, to artists, and for this unique event.”
And now it feels like we’re in a particle accelerator waiting to see what the heck forms (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)
If Israel stays in, the 2026 contest risks collapse. Fewer countries, fewer semi-finals, and total public ridicule. The only way to save Eurovision is to ban Israel outright.
2026 contest is done if they keep Israel in. Prepare for withdrawals, boycotts and half empty arenas.
The EBU will only have themselves to blame.
I don’t understand why the article states that Australia is likely to vote against Israel’s exclusion… surely Australia does not have a vote? Or maybe I can be corrected haha
The EBU is playing with serious fire here unless they have a rough idea that the members will vote to remove Israel and this it takes the look off them when KAN inevitably say that the “EBU is antisemitic” they can clap back and say it was the broadcasters decision. But still, it’s so risky and that vote isn’t just about Israel’s continued participation in 2026 but it’s also about the future of the contest and the direction of the EBU going forward. I’m biting my nails because the margin will be tight when you have the likes of France,… Read more »
The EBU has 68 member stations from 56 countries. Does this mean that each of these member stations will have a separate vote, or will there be just one vote for each country, or, perhaps, only one vote for each national station actually planning to participate in the Eurovision? If all member stations or countries are allowed, it is interesting whether some of the countries not currently participating would cast their vote, not least Turkey, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Jordan.
The end result is clear then because germany has like a bazillion EBU member broadcasters.
doesn’t matter. Each country gets 24 votes and they have to divide them among their respective broadcasters
Was this the same procedure that was followed when Russia was excluded? In my memory that was a much faster decision; was there a vote as well where 75% had to vote for?
Who cares?
For those saying the 75% threshold…. that’s not what it is required. That’s needed to expel KAN from the EBU, but for kicking them out of Eurovision it was confirmed that only a single majority (not even an absolute majority) is required. Plus it’s a vote from ALL broadcasters, meaning Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria… also get to cast their vote, and I highly doubt they will support Israel
Even so it is hard to reach. Israel is not Russia. With Russia everybody agreed, not so much now.
I fear whatever result ESC will be ruined. If Israel gets kicked out I think some countries will not take part as a protest against that..
I doubt about that.
I mean, voting? Really? All Russia had to do is to invade Ukraine (and didn’t even completely destroyed Ukraine, at least not then) but was immediately banned by EBU. But when Israel completely and utterly wiped out Gaza from the map, plus openly and admittedly manipulated the televote (by their government) twice in a row, all we have now is “let’s vote”? This isn’t double standard, this is ludicrousy and craziness at it’s max!
Yeah I think Israel will now easily win this, the threshold should be at least 60%
which is unbelievable, although things could change if they are expelled from the world cup. Im in two minds and for me its more the actual competition itself that needs to be addressed. State sponsored advertising needs to be banned so that no country is favoured over another and possibly the 20 votes per person needs to be changed. The last two year’s public voting results for me were disappointing. The EBU needs to change something on this front otherwise Israel will top the public vote next year without us even knowing the song yet – and that is not… Read more »
Sure, let’s just move the responsibility of this decision to some people who can be easily bribed by Israel instead of confronting them. Are the millions of televotes for Israel really worth that much that they would let half the countries withdraw?
75% is quite a tall threshold. We might still see Israel in Eurovision next year…
EBU has stated it’s gonna be a simple 50% majority as the voting is not for EBU expulsion but for ESC participation suspension.
Why they didn’t do the same with Russia? They do everything to keep the genociders in. Human rights, war crimes and genocide are not for vote or negotiation! There are multiple NGOs and the International Court that have ruled that IT IS a genocide. Imagine if the contest was back in 1940s and asking countries if they wanted Germany to compete or in the 1990s and asking the same about the apartheid state of then South Africa! Governments (not people) will vote politically. Zionosts have been controlling EBU among others.
It is surprising that the EBU is actually doing something – but they could avoid a lot of bad publicity from all sides and just exclude Israel for the all the cheating they have done the past few years that has already been proven.
Even if the vote fails, the EBU really has to consider the effects of two major financial contributors (Spain and the Netherlands) and a country with a huge Eurovision following (Iceland) withdrawing from the contest. There’s zero chance that a contest with Israel still participating won’t end in a huge disaster. They’re only playing off the inevitable.
KAN should withdraw from ESC. It would be a low blow to his government. They have mentioned not agreeing with the invasion..
Will there be robot algorithm votes like in the actual contest?
I assume Australia can’t vote?
countries should remember that this is about standing up for human rights and acknowledging that this country doesn’t represent the values of the contest, and should forget about upsetting people diplomatically, i just hope my country makes the right choice and votes for israel’s removal
75%? That’s an awfully high bar to cross…That’s only 9 countries they need to win over. They already have Germany, Azerbaijan, Austria, and seems like UK and Australia aren’t fussed either. I’m concerned.
Either we are getting the contest back or losing it forever…
Can it be November already so we can get this over with?!
Did they provide that kind of voting with russian participation?
Did you know that Russia and Belarus’ broadcasters were censored by their governments and broke other rules while Israel’s Kan is completely complicit, and while other broadcssters like Spain actually keep breaking the rules by getting politicians squeeze them to spread division and ruin the contest by boyccots while their regims actually try to whipe out other minorities? Did you know that other countries under conflicts and which were invaded and self defending – just like Israel – like Ukraine and Armenia, as well as big western remaining Empires on the other hand – also participate in Eurovision with great… Read more »
So will this be voted on by all EBU members, or only those who tend to participate in Eurovision? If the former, that could make it even more unpredictable.
If that’s the case, countries like Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya could do the funniest thing.
Yeah cause it’s so funny, it’s just “huggable” to see how people who claim to be upset and wanting peace and love, pull off those masks to show their all-over scratched faces happy and laughing, when talks about boycott and division, and when what you find to be so “funny” is that other entities including such which precisely attacked Israel in this war and which arecfull of primitive laws like anti-LGBQ – will vote to boycott normal democracies from a music contest which they can’t even participate as they can’t even show the LGBTQ and outfits often shown on the… Read more »
So a few questions im hoping can/will be clarified in the coming weeks to the vote 1) If I am understanding right, EVERY EBU member broadcaster is getting a vote?, what if a country has more than 1 member?. does it go by each broadcaster or each country. 2) Does a country have to participate in any EBU event to be able to cast a vote? 3) is it every full member or does it include associate members too? will be interesting to see how it turns out since several countries in North Africa and the middle east are full… Read more »
Time for broadcasters to act with courage. France and Australia have already ruined their reputation and will not be receiving votes from me for being so cowardly.
Israel would rather bring down the contest than accept pariah status in any international event, even voluntarily or temporarily…
People would rather bring down the contest by spreading division and boycott, let alone cheering for other countries under conflicts to participate, which will ultimately bring complex discriminations of domino boycotts that will crumble this contest – even more than the breaking and ruins that countries like Ireland, Netherlands and Iceland allready caused with their past representatives and broadcasters+politicians corrupted behaviors. And all this is based on corruptedly false info of the conflict to begin with, mostly by pinning one side as a sole unreasonable aggressors in order to whitewash the other side which is way more of the actual… Read more »
I’m pleasantly surprised by the EBU’s decision to confront this hot potato issue earlier than originally scheduled due to the eroding effect it has on the fate of next year’s contest. My estimate is that the expected UEFA vote, the media coverage of the flotilla heading to Gaza and Netanyahu’s escalation of the war will guarantee a significant majority to suspend Israel for sure.
And whatever happens: I am so proud that my broadcaster AVROTROS is taking a hard stand for what they believe in, even while knowing that this will cause them a lot of political scorn and puts them in the eye of the storm. It’s courageous and proves the independance of our populistic government.
Whatever happens: We can see we are living in strange historicial times with lots of uncertainty. Eurovision was founded after world war two on the broader concept of ‘never again’. The contest thrives in times of harmony. Whatever happens, eurovision will not be the same as long as there’s turmoil on our continent/on a world wide scale. The contest can not thrive in this situation because all the ‘good vibes’ and harmomy you want to portray will simple be fake. I’d even go as far as saying that there’s no point of holding the eurovision song contest at times europe… Read more »
75% is hard to achieve which means even if you have majority Israel will still stay. On the other hand, keeping Israel in means Spain, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and potentially come other countries are out. Go figure and pick your side.
It’s kinda annoying that KAN reminds us all of the rule in place, where the whole drama began with basically one country’s total lack of care to abide any rule, any law, any international treaty, any common law of humanity
That’s more like it, EBU!
(VIVA) VICTORIA!
How about Israel just drop out from all EBU events due to the hate they’re getting. As for all the antisemites working for the EBU, I hope all of you get fired. Anyone wanting Eurovision dead will not get their way.
LONG LIVE EUROVISION!
You’ve missed the point entirely, criticising a country committing genocide and ethnic cleansing is not being antisemitic, it’s being real, it’s looking at the facts and holding people accountable, if you are unable to see that, then it’s a shame.
Anyone wanting a genocidal country to take part will not get their way, LONG LIVE EUROVISION!
You’re a perpetual 12 year old.
You always post stuff that makes you seem like a child. For years.
You’re probably a grown @ss man
If being against the unaliving of civilians, the starvation of children, forced displacement, rhetoric from the likes of Smotrich and Ben Gvr makes us antisemitic? Then so be it.
We know different. Now grow up
Israel staying will kill the contest. Too much damage has already been done.
The EBU is playing with fire and the Israeli reaction sounds like a threat, pretty much as always. What happens if it’s something like 21 for and 19 against Israel plus maybe some abstentions? 19 withdraw and 21 will have a single Saturday Eurovision night like 2001? Further details are crucial here. I wanna say this is good because they are forced to do something but never underestimate the EBU’s ability to screw things up, especially since numerous public broadcasters have already been very weak. Everyone should be forced to vote yes or no with the detailed results getting published… Read more »
Greece will also vote in favour of Israel. And I can’t express in words how ashamed I am of our government’s position regarding everything that concerns this issue.
Nevertheless, apart from Greece, Cyprus, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, no one else seems to be strongly in favour of Israel. This huge body of countries with no clear stance means that the vote is unpredictable. But it also means that they may opt in favour of having a contest and ultimately vote against Israel, even without ideological reasoning, but plain Realpolitik.
Azerbaijan is also a certain vote for Israel.
Yeah, they can suck it!
United by music, divided by Israel
This decision is the most important one in the contest’s history. Failure to exclude Israel will lead to the literal end of ESC, with the 2026 edition taking place with the least amount of countries since the contest’s expansion and with potentially one less semi-final. And most importantly, with Israel having the clearest path possible towards a rigged victory and a propaganda celebration. But most importantly, this will be the end of the contest symbolically. The principles on which the contest was created will have been irreversibly neglected. And given the fact that the European public opinion is fed up… Read more »
I’d rather Israel drop out and Eurovision 2027 be scheduled.
Finally; something tangible and definitive. Time to show your cards broadcasters. This time the we’re the Jury and you’re the public.
Significant consequences?! Such as?
So their response is threats, really?
Instead of trying to improve their image, they are making it worse with their agressive way to answer….it’s their choice but they shouldn’t be surprised after.
Bring it! I’m so ready.
get them out. NOW! Sabe this beautiful contest and celebration of true peace, diversity and culture