This Thursday the discussion on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 is expected to take place, and according to reports – if Israel is disqualified, Germany is expected to boycott Eurovision entirely and not even broadcast it.
The discussion on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 is scheduled for Thurdsay as part of the European Broadcasting Union’s General Assembly. After many rumours regarding the position of the German national broadcaster ARD, and its vague response on the matter, a new report from Reuters now confirms that if the upcoming discussion leads to a vote that results in Israel’s expulsion, Germany will boycott Eurovision and will not broadcast the contest at all.
The Reuters report comes after a period of ambiguity from the German national broadcaster, which has even chosen not to comment on the report itself. Many political figures in Germany have expressed strong support for Israel’s participation; the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has himself stated that Germany should withdraw if Israel is expelled, and public sentiment in Germany largely aligns with this position. However, the German national broadcaster has so far remained silent and has not clarified what concrete steps it plans to take on the issue.
According to the Greek website Eurovisionfun: Alongside the strong supporters Austria, Switzerland and the Big-5 country Germany, a number of other countries do not wish for a vote regarding Israel’s participation. They include Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Albania, Ukraine, and France.
Also some left-leaning countries that usually sympathize with the Palestinian cause like Norway and Denmark, said that they don’t intend to take the assembly for a vote regarding the participation. Denmark has even said that it will not vote against Israel if the discussion comes to a vote eventually.
Four countries—Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and the Netherlands—previously threatened to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel were allowed to compete. The Netherlands even declared it would not participate alongside Israel “even in the event of a complete ceasefire in Gaza.” In addition, Iceland hinted at the possibility of withdrawal but never made an official declaration, while Belgium announced it would wait for Israel’s final participation approval before deciding its own course.
Slovenia and Spain have made some concrete steps towards the supposed withdrawal, while Iceland took the other way and will supposedly participate in 2026 alongside Israel. The other countries are yet to make any steps towards any direction.
The final decision on Israel’s participation may still depend on developments in the political and security arenas. While the ceasefire has temporarily reduced pressure on Israel’s participation, renewed conflict in Gaza could again shift the situation. In the meantime, the debate surrounding Israel’s presence in Eurovision continues to stir tension across Europe, placing Eurovision 2026 before one of the most significant tests in its history—whether it can uphold its apolitical character and cultural values or succumb to external pressures.
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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Ofek Jerassi is an Israeli reporter, editor, content creator, and commentator, specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has developed his extensive expertise since childhood, becoming a close follower of the contest. For the past three years, he has served as a writer and editor for EuroMix—Israel’s largest Eurovision website and one of the world’s leading platforms in the field, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Ofek covered Eurovision 2025 on-site in Basel from the press center in the host city, providing EuroMix readers with firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and exclusive reactions from the audience, artists, and experts. His in-depth knowledge and broad familiarity with the Eurovision world are evident in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
In his personal life, Ofek is a medic and avid traveler. He writes out of a genuine love for Eurovision, placing strong emphasis on credibility, professional commentary, and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
