Overview

• Austrian ESC winner JJ initially called for Israel's exclusion from Eurovision 2026, citing the Gaza conflict, but later apologized through his record label, expressing regret for any misunderstandings.
• The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Austria's ORF distanced themselves from JJ's comments, emphasizing the contest's apolitical stance and established participation rules.
• Israel's 2025 entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the 2023 Nova festival attack, finished second after winning the public vote but losing in jury scoring.
• Broadcasters, including Spain's RTVE, have formally requested a review of televoting processes, alleging potential influence from ongoing military conflicts.
• The debate over Israel's future participation remains unresolved, with over 70 former ESC participants advocating for its exclusion in an open letter.