Israel will take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna after surviving a contentious vote Thursday at the European Broadcasting Union’s General Assembly in Geneva, Israeli officials said. The decision prompted the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain to announce they would withdraw from the competition.
The vote, held by secret ballot as part of a broader approval of new contest rules, followed months of debate over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza and public pressure from several European broadcasters. Delegates in the room described a tense atmosphere throughout the discussion.
According to officials present, Germany offered what they described as “unequivocal support” for Israel, while Spain, Belgium, Slovenia and Turkey expressed firm opposition during their speeches. Britain argued that the contest should not be politicized, and Ukraine defended Israel’s inclusion, saying comparisons to Russia’s expulsion from Eurovision were unfounded.
Spain reportedly told the assembly it would continue participating only if it were permitted to compete under a neutral flag should Israel remain in the lineup.
Israel’s representatives—KAN CEO Golan Yochpaz and legal adviser Ayala Mizrahi—maintained that Israel had not violated any EBU rules and therefore had no legal basis for suspension. Some delegations left the room during Israel’s remarks; sources present said Algeria and Turkey walked out, though that account could not be independently confirmed.
Ahead of the vote, Israel had worked to prevent the issue from coming to a formal ballot, fearing it could lead to expulsion. The EBU had appointed an external adviser last summer to examine the question, a development Israel viewed as a diplomatic achievement given strong anti-Israel sentiment at the time.
In recent months, several countries—including Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Ireland and Iceland—signaled they might boycott the contest if Israel remained. The momentum shifted, however, as other countries confirmed their participation regardless of Israel’s status. Germany later warned that expelling Israel could lead it to reconsider its own involvement. Austria, which will host the 2026 contest, formally stated it welcomed Israel’s participation.
Israel, which was widely expected to be excluded earlier in the process, now moves forward to Vienna—though diplomatic tensions around the decision are likely to continue.