ORF, the Austrian national broadcaster, has unveiled that the EBU has cancelled the extraordinary vote scheduled to take place in November in order to determine if Israel should participate at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 has now been cancelled and the decision will be made at the EBU’s winter assembly.
The EBU had initially convened an extraordinary general assembly in early November to vote on Israel’s Eurovision 2026 participation due to the on going war in Gaza and the growing calls to forbid Israel at ESC 2026, this extraordinary vote has now been cancelled due to the latest developments in the Midle East.
Hence the EBU’s Executive Board has decided to put the matter for discussion on the EBU’s winter assembly’s agenda. Several EBU members have threatened to withdraw from the contest if Israel is allowed to compete in the contest: Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands.
The EBU’s press release reads:
In light of recent developments in the Middle East, the Executive Board agrees that there is a clear need for an open and personal discussion among members on the question of participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Therefore, the issue has been placed on the agenda of the regular winter General Assembly, scheduled for December, rather than at an extraordinary meeting beforehand.
The Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 12, 14 and 16 May in Vienna, Austria.
