Luxembourg’s parliament confirms the government opposes boycotting Israel from Eurovision 2026, emphasizing cultural unity and separating politics from music ahead of EBU discussions.
The Luxembourg national broadcaster RTL revealed on Wednesday that a member of Luxembourg’s parliament raised a formal inquiry regarding Israel’s participation in the upcoming contest. According to RTL, the parliamentary session concluded unequivocally that the Luxembourg government does not support boycotting Israel from Eurovision 2026, which will take place in Vienna, Austria.
Could this be a small hint of the tone that will prevail at the decisive assembly concerning Israel’s future in the contest, or merely brief solace for Eurovision fans united behind the Israeli flag?
Parliamentary Discussion: Luxembourg’s Stance
Ben Polidori, a member of the Social Democratic Party, submitted an official parliamentary inquiry asking whether Luxembourg would support boycotting Israel at Eurovision, arguing that Israel might use the contest for “cultural whitewashing” — employing culture to normalize its image.
In response, three ministers — Xavier Bettel, Stephen Till, and Gilles Margue — declared unequivocally that Luxembourg does not support any boycott of Israel.
According to their joint statement: “Eurovision is an international music competition designed to promote values of openness, culture, and dialogue between nations. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a clear separation between geopolitical tensions and cultural events.”
Furthermore, the government emphasized that Luxembourg will continue its preparations for Eurovision 2026 as planned, and that RTL, the national broadcaster, will remain fully involved in all stages of decision-making.
EBU Assembly Postponed to December 4
Earlier this month, an official notice was sent to members of the European Broadcasting Union following steps toward a ceasefire in Gaza. The letter confirmed that discussions about Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 — initially moved to early November — will now take place on December 4, during the organization’s General Assembly.
According to the EBU, the decision was made “in light of recent developments in the Middle East” and reflects a desire to hold “an open discussion with full participation of all members.” However, the statement did not specify whether a vote will indeed take place, leaving open the possibility that a final resolution could be postponed depending on the tone and direction of the debate.
Luxembourg in Eurovision 2025
“La poupée monte le son” (in English: “The Doll Turns Up the Sound”) is the title of the song performed by Laura Thorn, who represented Luxembourg at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Luxembourg qualified for the final from seventh place in the semi-final with 62 points and finished 22nd in the final with 47 points – 23 from the jury and 24 from the public.
Eurovision 2025: This was Luxembourg’s 39th participation in Eurovision. Luxembourg joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. Luxembourg’s last victory was at Eurovision 1983 with the song “Si la vie est cadeau” performed by singer Corinne Hermès. In 2024, Luxembourg returned to the competition after a 31-year absence.
