The EBU, the European Broadcasting Union, have held their General Assembly in the United Kingdom today, but they have refrained from expelling Israel for now.

Germany, Austria, Cyprus, Greece and Switzerland supported the presence of Israel, while the United Kingdom abstained. The debate, reported to be lively, lasted for approximately 90 minutes. The decision on expulsion will now be made at the General Assembly in the winter. The EBU had the following to say:

” If the war continues into the winter, when the issue of Israel is debated again, KAN will have a hard time remaining in Eurovision. Several countries oppose Israel’s participation.”

In regards to the General Assembly overall, the EBU had the following to say:

“At today’s EBU General Assembly, Members held an open and constructive discussion on the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and the increasingly complex global context in which it takes place.

The Assembly was a chance to celebrate the success of ESC 2025 – not just in terms of its record-breaking reach and engagement but in terms of its cultural resonance and ability to foster inclusivity, creativity, and a sense of belonging on a world stage.

But of course, despite its extraordinary success, the Eurovision Song Contest, like many other events, is not immune to the pressures of global politics. Questions around participation have become increasingly sensitive and multifaceted, and our Members hold a wide range of perspectives on these issues which they were able to express in detail today.

Members had a constructive exchange of views. There was a shared understanding that this is an unprecedentedly complex situation and there is a wide diversity of opinions.

Members also expressed their support for the work of the Israeli public broadcaster Kan and its independence, noting the pressure it is repeatedly experiencing from the Israeli government.

To help us navigate the current landscape, a former senior TV executive has now been invited to lead a structured and in-depth dialogue with our Member broadcasters in the coming weeks.

They will engage with Directors General and other stakeholders to gather insights on how we manage participation, geopolitical tensions, and how other organizations have approached similar challenges. They will report back with recommendations this autumn.

The EBU remains committed to transparency and will continue to keep Members informed of developments in the months ahead.”

Let us know what you think about the EBU, Israel and the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest – either in the comments below or on our FACEBOOK, BLUESKY, TWITTER, YOUTUBE, INSTAGRAM and TIKTOK pages.

The Eurovision Community, which Eurovision Ireland are a part of, celebrates diversity through music. Please keep your comments respectful. We will not tolerate racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, body-shaming or any other derogatory or hostile language.

Author: Richard Taylor

Source: ESCplus Espana & Eurovoix