Germany reaffirms support for Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 as Education Minister Karin Prien calls any expulsion “an antisemitic act” contradicting the contest’s spirit of unity and cultural dialogue.
Germany continues to firmly support Israel’s participation in the contest. German Education Minister Karin Prien stated today (Thursday) that she strongly opposes Israel’s removal from Eurovision 2026, which will take place in Vienna, Austria. According to her, excluding Israel because of its government’s actions would be an antisemitic act that undermines the cultural values and dialogue on which the competition is based.
“Germany must continue to support Israel’s participation”
Karin Prien declared unequivocally:
“Expelling Israel from Eurovision 2026 is a completely antisemitic act. Therefore, I fully agree with Germany’s insistence and its threats regarding Israel’s participation”.
Her remarks stand among the strongest diplomatic statements recently made by senior European officials. Prien added:
“The values of enlightenment and acceptance require maintaining dialogue and avoiding punishment of artists and creators for their governments’ actions”.
Prien aligns herself with Germany’s chancellor, who argued that it is legitimate to disagree with Israel’s government policies but absolutely inappropriate to bring political issues into the Eurovision contest, which exists to unite rather than divide.
Although Germany has voiced criticism in recent months regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, the country remains one of Israel’s strongest and most consistent allies on the international stage, maintaining a clear separation between politics and the contest. Germany’s national broadcaster emphasized its opposition to any politicization or cultural boycotts of Eurovision and reaffirmed support for Israel’s continued participation.
German Public Opinion Supports Israel
The public debate in Germany surrounding Eurovision 2026 is accompanied by new poll data that reflects attitudes toward Israel and its artists’ participation in international competitions. According to a survey conducted at the beginning of the month, about 65% of Germans oppose punishing Israeli artists or athletes, supporting their continued involvement in events like Eurovision and sports tournaments. This data indicates a public preference for separating culture and sports from political tensions and highlights broad German opposition to imposing cultural sanctions on Israel. These results differ sharply from a recent British poll showing a substantial majority in favor of banning Israel from the contest.
Decision Postponed to December 4th
At the beginning of the month, an official notice was sent to members of the EBU regarding progress toward ending the war in Gaza. The announcement stated that the discussion on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 – originally moved up to early November – will ultimately be held on its original date, December 4th, during the organization’s General Assembly. According to the EBU, the decision was made “in light of recent developments in the Middle East” and in order to conduct “an open discussion with full member participation”. However, the notice does not confirm whether an actual vote will take place, leaving open the possibility that the vote could be canceled, depending on the discussion’s tone and emerging positions.
Germany at Eurovision 2025:
“Baller” (in English: “Shooter”) is the title of the song performed by duo Abor & Tynna, who represented Germany at the Eurovision 2025. The pair finished 15th in the Grand Final with a total of 151 points. The public televote ranked them 11th, while the professional juries placed them 13th.
This marks the second consecutive year in which Germany has achieved a relatively successful Eurovision result, avoiding the bottom of the scoreboard. Last year, singer Isaak secured 12th place in the Grand Final with his song “Always on the Run”.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Germany’s 69th participation in Eurovision. Germany joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won twice over the years. Germany’s last victory was in Eurovision 2010 with the song “Satellite” performed by singer Lena Meyer-Landrut.
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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.
