The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has addressed speculation surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, confirming that no formal proposals have been made to broadcaster KAN.
No “neutral flag” option
Reports suggesting that Israel had been asked to compete under a neutral flag or withdraw temporarily this year have been denied. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, an EBU spokesperson stated:
“The EBU has not made any proposals to KAN regarding participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The consultation with the wider EBU membership is ongoing and no decisions will be made until the process concludes.”
Consultations still ongoing
The EBU emphasised that it “understands the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” but confirmed that member broadcasters are still being consulted on how to address geopolitical tensions ahead of next year’s Contest in Vienna.
Broadcasters now have until mid-December to confirm their participation. “It is up to each Member to decide if they want to take part in the Contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make,” the EBU added.
The Eurovision 2026 journey
The journey to the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest kicked off immediately following JJ’s win in Basel, when Austria’s ORF accepted the rights to host the 70th edition of the contest. The bidding process started in June, with interested cities having until July 4 to submit their bid book. Innsbruck and Vienna were shortlisted, with the latter winning the right to host next year’s contest.
As for the organisation of the competition, the ‘core team‘ was revealed in June 2025, with further details about next year’s competition to be revealed in due course. The shows will take place on May 12th, 14th and 16th.
Do you think the EBU should introduce new measures to address the concerns around Israel’s participation, or should Eurovision continue under the current rules? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. And don’t forget to follow That Eurovision Site on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Tumblr, and Bluesky for all the latest updates on Sanremo and Eurovision 2026!
News Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Photo Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
Rory Gannon 
Thomas James