Plans for a special November vote to decide whether Israel may take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna have been shelved, according to reports in the Austrian media and statements from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The extraordinary vote had been scheduled for November to resolve mounting controversy over Israel’s participation amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, but the EBU announced it would postpone the decision and defer the matter to its regular winter General Assembly scheduled for December.
Austrian press reports said the decision to postpone the November vote was confirmed by the Austrian public broadcaster ORF, which is set to host Eurovision 2026. ORF reportedly welcomed the move, seeing it as a way to preserve unity among participating broadcasters.
According to the EBU, recent developments in the Middle East—including a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas—and the complexity of the issue warranted a more open, in-person discussion among its members. The EBU Executive Board said in a statement its members agreed “there is a clear need for an open and personal discussion among members” before making a final decision.
Under the original plan, the November vote would have been held online and focused on whether the Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, should be allowed to participate in the contest — a proposal that had been opposed by some member broadcasters threatening to withdraw if Israel were permitted entry.
The postponement delays a potentially divisive showdown ahead of next year’s contest. Some broadcasters—including Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland and Slovenia—had already warned they would boycott the contest if Israel participated.
Austria’s role is particularly sensitive. As host nation broadcaster, ORF faces the prospect of organizing the Eurovision event in Vienna while navigating pressure both from proponents of exclusion and from countries that view Israel’s participation as essential to the contest’s neutrality. Austrian news outlets have also reported that some political figures have threatened that Austria might withdraw from hosting if Israel were excluded — a move that could incur significant financial and reputational costs.
With the decision now postponed to December, the EBU and its member broadcasters have more time to debate procedural and political matters behind closed doors. It remains uncertain whether the vote will take place as originally drafted or whether new proposals or amendments will be introduced before the winter General Assembly convenes.
