ESC: Dispute over Israel at the ESC organizer is planning online vote

In the ongoing controversy about the participation of Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2026, the organizer, the European Radio Union (EBU), appoints a virtual special meeting of the members. A vote on participation should take place in November. However, Israel is not mentioned in the statement.

“We can confirm that the board of directors of the European Radio Union sent a letter to the general directors of all of our members in which he informs you that a vote on participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place as part of an extraordinary meeting of the EBU general assembly, which will be held online at the beginning of November,” said EBU on request. “At the moment we have nothing else to add.” The next ESC will take place in Vienna in 2026.

Report: EBU relies on a “democratic basis of decision”

The Austrian news agency APA had previously reported on the planned vote. She quoted from the letter to the members. It refers to the “unprecedented variety of opinions” of the EBU members regarding the participation of Israel, as the APA reports. Because there is no mutually acceptable position, one rely on a broader, democratic basis for decision -making in a vote in which all members should have a voice, the APA continues to quote from writing.

In 2024 and 2025 there were street protests against the participation of Israel due to the Gaza War. Several countries have now announced that they do not participate in the 2026 competition if Israel is not excluded.

The Gaza War had started with the unprecedented attack by Hamas terrorists and other groups to the Israeli border area. Around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 more were dragged into the Gaza strips as hostages. According to the health authority controlled by the Hamas in the Gaza Strip, more than 65,400 Palestinians were killed within two years. Israel is increasingly isolated internationally because of its hard warfare.