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Following a vote of members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in Geneva today, Israel will be allowed to take part in the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The decision has prompted immediate withdrawal statements from Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain.
Following a vote at the General Assembly meeting this afternoon, where rule changes were approved by a majority present, a much-reported second vote on Israeli participation did not happen. The EBU declared that Israel would be allowed to take part, given a second vote was only likely to happen if the new rules were not approved.
The first withdrawal followed within seconds. The Netherlands will not take part. A statement noted: ‘participation by AVROTROS in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will not be possible as long as Israel is admitted by the EBU. Should the EBU decide not to admit Israel, AVROTROS will gladly take part next year. ‘
Shortly afterwards the Spanish public broadcaster RTVE announced it is withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest after the Assembly rejected its request for a secret ballot on the continued participation of KAN — the Israeli broadcaster — in the contest. RTVE says that EBU response, combined with failures to sanction KAN over what it sees as breaches of Eurovision rules and what it describes as the “politicisation” of the event, undermines Eurovision’s claim to cultural neutrality. As a result, RTVE says it will not broadcast the 2026 contest, including semi-finals, or the final scheduled to be held in Vienna.
In Ireland, RTÉ confirmed it will not take part in or broadcast next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Slovenia has already stated it will not be there if Israel takes part, effectively removing them from the running. Icelandic RÚV will discuss the matter at a board meeting next week and announce its decision on Wednesday. As far as we know, everyone else is in it to win it.
Further fallout from this decision will doubtless follow in the coming hours or days. We’ll report it. Eventually. If you really can’t wait, try X or BlueSky.
