The future participation of Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest will be decided in an EBU member vote in November 2025.
Editor’s Note: As of October 2025, the vote has been cancelled due to the announced ceasefire. However, it is not known if the matter of Israel’s participation for 2026 is truly settled. Please visit Euro Yard for further updates.
The prolonged war in Gaza has caused a stir among certain participating nations in the Eurovision Song Contest. Pressure from these broadcasters necessitated the European Broadcasting Union to take action, as several countries have pledged to withdraw from the 2026 contest if Israel is participating. Amongst them was Spain, a member of the “Big Five” which automatically qualifies for the Grand Final. Several other countries, including the Netherlands and Ireland, had indicated the same.
What is the situation with Israel’s broadcaster, KAN, participating in the contest, and what is the likely outcome?
Israel at Eurovision: The History
- Israel has participated at the Eurovision Song Contest since 1973. Their first entry was “Ey Sham” by Ilanit, who appeared at the contest twice.
- Their first win was in 1978, just five years later, thanks to Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta. That winning song was “A-Ba-Ni-Bi.”
- In total, Israel has won the contest four times: 1978, 1979, 1998, and 2018.
- The nation finished in second place in the 2025 contest, and was a source of controversy among the competing countries in both 2024 and 2025. In recent times, some Eurovision artists, including 2025 winner JJ from Austria, called for their exclusion due to the Gaza war.
EBU Convening an “Extraordinary Session of the General Assembly”
In a statement by EBU President Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, the organization accepted feedback from its members and consulted amongst themselves. They determined the following:
- The EBU’s Executive Board attempted to reach a “consensual position” with KAN, but they could not reach an agreement.
- Calling it a “divisive situation,” the EBU determined that it could not make this decision on a unilateral basis.
- They are convening an “extraordinary session of the General Assembly,” whereby all members will vote on whether or not Israel’s broadcaster can participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
The layman’s terms version of the above is that the EBU and KAN (most likely) tried to reach an agreement whereby KAN would voluntarily and temporarily withdraw from the contest, and KAN said no. Several broadcasters threatened to withdraw, forcing the EBU to call an emergency session, because the EBU did not want to make this decision on their own. There, the members will decide if Israel should stay in the contest.
Israel at Eurovision: KAN Responds
In the broadcaster’s statement, KAN stated that the contest is “non-political,” and expressed that members should not undertake a move to exclude them with haste. Doing so, in their words, would have “wide-ranging implications” and would undermine its theme of unity.
KAN stated that it was their understanding that a three-fourths majority, or 75 percent, would be required to exclude them. However, Eurovision World and the EBU clarified that a simple majority will be all that is needed.
What Will Happen to Israel at Eurovision?
Had KAN been correct that 75 percent would be needed to eject them from the Eurovision Song Contest, that would be a tough bar to clear. Since it does not appear that is the case, this is going to be a more difficult road for Israel. If the question is just about removing them from the Eurovision Song Contest, and not a wider topic (removal from the EBU), then that is a more narrowly-tailored question, and not likely to trigger the three-fourths threshold.
Keep in mind as well that this “extraordinary session” is a vote of all EBU members, not just countries participating in the contest. There are 68 member broadcasters from 56 countries, and a number of them are in the Arab world. We are still waiting for clarity from the EBU on who will be voting.
Most national broadcasters have not made firm statements against Israel’s participation like Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Some, like Sweden, have stated their neutrality. It is entirely possible that a number of countries will abstain. It is simply too soon to know how the votes will fall, as each voting broadcaster will need to reach their own consensus.
As for the countries that questioned Israel’s participation, this is their pathway to get what they wanted. Some may have preferred the EBU taking unilateral action. Still, it will be put to a democratic process, and no doubt, KAN is feeling pressure that they might lose the vote.
Possible Outcomes
In fact, there are a few possible outcomes between now and November:
- Sensing defeat, KAN will voluntarily withdraw from the contest in 2026, and the vote will be cancelled.
- The EBU membership will vote to exclude KAN from the 2026 contest. It remains to be seen if other nations would also withdraw in solidarity.
- KAN wins the vote and can remain at the contest, in which case at least four countries will withdraw.
The Eurovision Song Contest is heading for unprecedented times.