The EBU revealed today that no national broadcaster has officially submitted a request to exclude Israel from Eurovision! So, what is all the commotion about, and will Israel take part in Eurovision 2026?
Over recent months, we have witnessed a growing public storm over Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026. At the beginning of July, a meeting was held in London where delegates from EBU member states discussed, among other topics, Israel’s place in the upcoming contest. Slovenia and Iceland threatened to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel were to participate, with the latter confirming just days ago its own participation in Eurovision 2026. Alongside them, Belgium, Ireland, and Spain have been leading an anti-Israeli stance within the EBU. Could all this uproar against Israel ultimately fail to produce an actual exclusion from Eurovision?
No National Broadcaster Has Requested Israel’s Expulsion
The Dutch branch of Luxembourg’s national broadcaster, RTL Nieuws, revealed today that not a single national broadcaster has submitted an official request to the EBU to remove Israel from the competition. The broadcaster further reported that the EBU is still in contact with national broadcasters across Europe in order to “get a full picture regarding their participation in Eurovision”.
This announcement comes on the very same day as ynet’s revelation that the European Broadcasting Union extended the deadline to withdraw from Eurovision without penalty until December — a decision made following the debate over Israel’s participation. It is possible that this is a strategic move to prepare for Israel’s inclusion while easing the way for countries that may wish to withdraw should Israel compete.
Israel was not alone in the EBU discussions. Backing Israel’s position were Germany, the competition’s largest funder, Austria, the host country, as well as Switzerland, Cyprus, and Greece. Reports also circulated suggesting that Germany and Italy threatened to withdraw if Israel were excluded from the competition. Without their financial backing, Eurovision’s very sustainability would be compromised — especially when compared with the relatively minor weight of Slovenia and Iceland. Austria’s role as the 2026 host further strengthens Israel’s position, with both the organizing national broadcaster and the City of Vienna expressing readiness to provide additional security for the Israeli delegation at Eurovision 2026.
It is important to note that the absence of formal expulsion requests does not yet guarantee Israel’s participation in the competition. The EBU is expected to decide on Israel’s place by the end of the year.
Israel at Eurovision 2025
“New Day Will Rise” is the song performed by Yuval Raphael, who was chosen to represent Israel after winning the 11th season of “HaKokhav HaBa”. Israel advanced to the final after winning the second semi-final with 203 points and finished second overall with 436 points in the grand final. Israel ranked first in the public vote but only 14th with the jury. This marks the third consecutive year that Israel has reached the top five – an unprecedented achievement.
Eurovision 2025: This was Israel’s 47th participation in Eurovision. Israel joined the contest in 1973 and has won four times. Its most recent victory was at Eurovision 2018 with the song “Toy”, performed by singer Netta Barzilai.
