US EditionIsrael Approved for 2026 Eurovision; Spain and the Netherlands Announce Withdrawal
- At the EBU general assembly on December 4 and 5 members will vote in Geneva on whether Israel can participate in Eurovision 2025 after a postponed November meeting.
- Last month the EBU announced voting-rule changes on November 21 after member broadcasters threatened boycotts over the war in Gaza and alleged vote interference.
- Broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands have signalled possible withdrawals, while Iceland's RUV will formally request Israel's exclusion amid accusations of paid-for advertising, which Israel denies.
- If the EBU fails to reach consensus, broadcasters may decide individually or as a breakaway group, with members due to confirm participation by mid-December and a final list by Christmas, amid warnings of the biggest Eurovision boycott.
- Under the new rules, the expanded professional jury at semi-finals holds around 50% of the vote, audience votes are capped at 10, and the contest draws more than 150 million viewers with ORF urging compromise in Vienna.
102 Articles
102 Articles
For months, the public broadcasters in Europe are arguing for Israel's participation in the ESC. In the evening, the decision is made that the country can participate in the competition. Three states then announce that they will withdraw.
Israel will be able to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Vienna next year, which was announced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). In response, several countries canceled their participation, including Spain and Ireland.
Spain, Ireland and Others Boycott Eurovision Over Israel’s Participation
Since Israel’s military began its incursion into Gaza after the Hamas-led attacks two years ago, many Eurovision fans have agonized over Israel’s presence in the contest. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepened, several member countries said Israel should no longer take part in the musical event. On Thursday, after a European Broadcasting Union meeting in which Israel’s participation in the contest was left unchanged, RTVE, the public broadc…
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