The debate over Israel’s Eurovision participation intensifies. While some push for boycotts, Malta and Australia confirmed they will compete in Eurovision 2026 regardless of Israel’s inclusion.
The debate over Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 continues to draw in more and more countries across Europe, and now even beyond. Malta and Australia both released official statements yesterday (Tuesday) regarding their planned participation in this year’s Eurovision. Following the controversy sparked by Spain, which declared it would withdraw if Israel is not excluded, the positions emerging from Malta and Australia bring a refreshing and significant counterpoint.
Malta: “Eurovision is a Place for Dialogue”
Malta’s Minister of Culture, Owen Bonnici, told the “Times of Malta” that his country will not join calls to boycott Israel. According to him, the contest should encourage a “culture of dialogue” and serve as a space for understanding and attentive listening between nations. Bonnici clarified:
“I completely condemn the actions of the Israeli government, but the window for dialogue must remain open”.
He added that participation in Eurovision does not represent agreement with political positions, but rather the preservation of a unique cultural environment connecting different countries.
Australia: Continuing the Participation Tradition
Australia also made its stance clear, affirming it will participate in the contest this year without any preconditions. A spokesperson for the Australian national broadcaster SBS, which holds the rights to air Eurovision in the country, told “TV Tonight”:
“SBS has broadcast Eurovision for more than 40 years… We intend to continue this tradition with our participation in Eurovision 2026”.
Meanwhile, the EBU is continuing internal discussions, with the final decision on Israel’s participation scheduled for the General Assembly in December. Until then, each country is weighing its position, while the public across Europe and beyond closely follows every development.
The Situation in Europe
As of today, at least four countries, among them Spain, have announced they will not participate if Israel is not removed from the contest. On the other hand, countries such as Iceland, Finland, and Denmark remain undecided, while nations like Germany and the United Kingdom lean toward the perspectives of Malta and Australia, favoring a receptive, pluralistic, and in certain cases even supportive approach.
EBU’s Response: “Each Broadcaster Decides Whether to Participate”
Martin Green, the contest’s executive supervisor, stressed that participation in Eurovision is voluntary:
“The EBU will continue to maintain neutrality regarding the Middle East conflict”.
The vote on Israel’s suspension is expected December 4th-5th during the EBU General Assembly. Green added that by mid-December, each country will be required to confirm participation, and each national broadcaster will decide independently: “We will respect every decision”.
The EBU’s regulations allow suspension or expulsion of a country only through a special vote with a qualified majority, and only in extreme circumstances. Therefore, despite pressure from Slovenia, Spain, and Iceland, suspending or excluding Israel does not seem realistic at this stage. Nevertheless, Slovenia’s declarations and threats, along with the possibility of more countries joining a boycott, place significant uncertainty over the Vienna contest. Will Israel ultimately take part in the competition? For now, it is impossible to say with certainty — but many are still holding their breath in hope.
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 357 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 2026: This will be Israel’s 48th 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.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
