EBU is facing mounting pressure over the potential exclusion of Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, but the government of Luxembourg has taken a side: they will not support any ban on Israel’s participation.
Government’s response
When asked in parliament, ministers Xavier Bettel, Eric Thill and Elisabeth Margue answered with a definitive “no” to excluding Israel. They emphasised that the Eurovision contest is an international musical event designed to foster openness and cultural exchange and that political decisions about state participation should remain separate from the contest itself. On the other hand, some European broadcasters, for example, from Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Iceland, have stated they may boycott the contest if Israel participates.
They also confirmed that Luxembourg’s broadcaster RTL Luxembourg, as a member of the EBU, will continue preparing for Eurovision 2026 as planned.
Luxembourg’s Eurovision journey
Luxembourg first made its debut in the first edition of the Contest in 1956, with its first entries being “Ne crois pas” and “Les Amants de minuit”, both performed by Michèle Arnaud. Since the first Contest, Luxembourg has competed a total of 38 times. Their best result was finishing in 1st place five times – in 1961, 1965, 1972, 1973 and 1983 respectively.
Luxembourg’s latest participation came in Basel in 2025. Laura Thorn represented Luxembourg with the song “La poupée monte le son”, qualifying in seventh place. In the Grand Final, Luxembourg finished 22nd, receiving 47 points: 23 from the national juries, and 24 from the televoters.
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News Source: RTL
Photo Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU