There has been a lot of confusion over who actually gets to decide Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026. The vote will be determined solely by the active members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). That means more than 60 broadcasters from more than 50 countries will cast the deciding votes.
Australia’s SBS participates in Eurovision. But it is only an associate member. As such, it does not get a vote.
Speaking to the BBC, the EBU clarified a few points. First, a decision will be taken by a simple majority. If more than 50% of members vote to exclude Israel, then state broadcaster Kan will not take part in 2026.
Second, EBU members who do not broadcast or participate in Eurovision will get to vote. This includes Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, Jordan and Lebanon.
The EBU also confirmed “all 68 member countries would be invited to vote.” However, when we look at the list of active broadcasters on the EBU web site it becomes a little trickier to decipher that.
The list includes groupings of broadcasters by country in 68 groups. But these groups include Belarus and Russia — both of which are suspended and won’t vote. And the Danish broadcasters cut across two different groupings — as do other broadcasters within a single country.
In any event, these are the broadcasters from non-suspended countries that appear able to vote.
Full list of the EBU broadcasters voting on Israel’s Eurovision 2026 participation
More than 60 broadcasters from more than 50 countries are the active members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) who will cast the deciding votes on whether Israel can take part in Eurovision 2026.
Albania – RTSH (Radiotelevizioni Shqiptar)
Algeria – EPTV / EPRS / TDA
Andorra – RTVA
Armenia – AMPTV (Public Television & Radio)
Austria – ORF
Azerbaijan – ITV (Ictimai)
Belgium – VRT & RTBF
Bosnia & Herzegovina – BHRT
Bulgaria – BNR & BNT
Croatia – HRT
Cyprus – CYBC
Czechia – Český Rozhlas (CR) & Česká Televize (CT)
Denmark – DR & TV 2/Danmark
Egypt – National Media Authority (NMA)
Estonia – ERR
Finland – YLE
France – France Télévisions, Radio France, France Médias Monde
Georgia – GPB
Germany – ARD & ZDF
Greece – ERT
Hungary – MTVA/Duna (HMG)
Iceland – RÚV
Ireland – RTÉ & TG4
Israel – IPBC
Italy – RAI
Jordan – JRTV
Latvia – LPSM
Lebanon – Télé-Liban
Lithuania – LRT
Luxembourg – CLT Multi Media & Radio 100,7
Malta – PBS
Moldova – TRM
Monaco – Monaco Média Diffusion & TV Monaco
Morocco – SNRT
Montenegro – RTCG
Netherlands – NPO (includes AVROTROS, BNNVARA, NOS, etc.)
North Macedonia – MKRTV
Norway – NRK & TV 2
Poland – TVP & Polskie Radio
Portugal – RTP
Romania – SRR & TVR
San Marino – SMRTV
Serbia – RTS
Slovakia – STVR
Slovenia – RTVSLO
Spain – RTVE
Sweden – SVT, SR, UR
Switzerland – SRG SSR
Tunisia – RTTT (Radio & Télévision Tunisienne)
Türkiye – TRT
Ukraine – Suspilne (UA:PBC)
United Kingdom – BBC, ITV (UKIB), S4C
Vatican City – Radio Vaticana
If Israel get a majority, the countries threatening to withdraw need to do it, otherwise this is nothing more than empty threats.
At this time, a generous list of those who’ll vote to exclude Israel is:
Algeria, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey.
Not nearly enough…
Ugh they’re gunna vote remain aren’t they?
RIP Eurovision. Dead at 70. No age to die
Wow, that’s more people than I thought there would be
let Israel participate, but most countries just need to withdraw, let this contest flop hard
Okay, some of the Arab countries do have relations with Israel , especially governments who fight inner regims jointly with Israel and mediate in the conflict. And, more countries from east Europe which support inclusion. But however the vote goes, at least it will be an organized general desicion. Not decided solely on few countries which their politicians try to pressure broadcasters and waving money to blackmail by withdrawal threats, for excluding another broadcaster. It does open a can of worms of future exclusions of other btoadcasters based on selective governments conflict judgemrnts, but whatever will be will be.