More than fifty members of the European Parliament have sent a letter to the European Broadcasting Union demanding that Israel be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
What they’re asking for
In their letter, the MEPs argue that allowing Israel to participate while international legal proceedings are underway amounts to a form of cultural “whitewashing.” They recall the precedent set in 2022 when Russia was expelled and insist on clear, transparent criteria grounded in human rights for any country’s admission or exclusion.
A general pressure
Those MEPs are not the only ones who press the EBU to ban Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Spain, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland might withdraw in case of an Israeli participation. Even former NRK employees urge a boycott of Eurovision 2026, and it’s unknown if the list will grow further.
The EBU General Assembly, scheduled for 4-5 December in Geneva, is expected to address these and other concerns regarding country participation. Any formal policy change or decision would likely be discussed and possibly voted on there.
The Journey to Eurovision 2026
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.
Will the European Parliament put more pressure on EBU? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
News Source: eurovision-spain.com
Photo credit: lamoncloa.gob.es
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