As more broadcasters call for Israel’s exclusion from Eurovision 2026, several countries have taken the opposite stance, voicing support for Israel’s right to remain in the Contest.
Broadcasters and governments supporting Israel
According to De Telegraaf, Germany is among the countries signalling support for Israel’s participation, with broadcaster Südwestrundfunk in direct contact with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Switzerland, Austria, Greece, Azerbaijan and Cyprus are also reported to back Israel should its participation come to a vote.
Amir Alon, a former member of Israel’s Eurovision delegation, told Israel’s Channel 12 that Germany and Italy had allegedly threatened to withdraw if Israel were banned.
In Austria, Lower Austria’s governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner commented on the boycott threats, stating:
“A Song Contest without Israel is unthinkable. Especially in difficult times, Austria must stand alongside the Israeli people.”
It is important to note that the situation remains fluid. With ongoing debates and negotiations, broadcaster positions can change quickly in the coming weeks. Nothing has been officially confirmed.
Italy: no official confirmation
While Italy has been mentioned in some reports, RAI has made no official statement on the matter. There is no clear indication that the broadcaster intends to link its Eurovision participation to Israel’s status.
A source told That Eurovision Site that, although RAI and San Marino RTV share the same Director General, Roberto Sergio – who has expressed support for Israel – Eurovision remains a valuable platform for both broadcasters, making an Italian withdrawal highly unlikely. With San Marino already confirming its 2026 participation regardless of Israel’s status, Italy is also expected to continue as planned.
Behind the scenes, Eurovision decisions at RAI are made by Simona Martorelli, Claudio Fasulo and Mariangela Borneo, all of whom are understood to favour ongoing participation.
Decision expected later this year
The EBU has extended the deadline for broadcasters to confirm their Eurovision 2026 participation until mid-December. Executive Producer Martin Green said that consultations are still ongoing with member broadcasters to address “geopolitical tensions” ahead of next year’s Contest in Vienna.
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.
What do you think of the divide between countries supporting and opposing Israel’s place in Eurovision 2026? 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: De Telegraaf
Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU
Giwrgos Oiko 
Rory Gannon