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3h ago

EBU Delays Israel Eurovision Decision to December Assembly

The union shifted the question to a face‑to‑face winter meeting after pointing to recent Middle East developments.

A logo of the Eurovision Song Contest is seen in front of the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse//File Photo
Image
Israel's Yuval Raphael finished second in 2025 with the song 'New Day Will Rise', performed on a spiral staircase

Overview

  • Organisers cancelled a planned November online vote and placed Israel’s participation on the agenda for the EBU Winter General Assembly in December.
  • The EBU cited the Gaza ceasefire and related hostage releases and prisoner exchanges as context for seeking in‑person member discussion.
  • The union has not said whether a formal vote on Israeli broadcaster KAN will occur in December, promising more details to members in the coming weeks.
  • Austria’s ORF, hosting Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, welcomed the move after urging broadcasters not to boycott the contest.
  • State broadcasters in Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands have threatened to withdraw if Israel competes, with Belgium, Sweden and Finland reported to be weighing similar action.