The Eurovision Song Contest, long celebrated as a symbol of unity and musical camaraderie across Europe, now finds itself at the center of a political storm. The controversy revolves around whether Israel should be allowed to participate in the 2026 edition, scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria, with the grand finale on May 16. The debate has not only divided European broadcasters but has also drawn in national leaders, cultural icons, and the general public, raising questions about the contest’s founding ideals and its future direction.
On October 7, 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made headlines when he stated in an interview with German broadcaster ARD that he would support Germany boycotting Eurovision 2026 if Israel is banned from competing. "I would support this. I think it’s a scandal that this is even being discussed. Israel has a place there," Merz declared, according to ARD. His comments came as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision, prepared for an unprecedented vote among its member broadcasters to determine Israel’s participation.
Germany’s stance is particularly significant given its status as one of Eurovision’s so-called “Big Five” countries—alongside the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain—which contribute the most financially and automatically qualify for the grand final each year. The weight of Germany’s opinion, therefore, carries considerable influence within the contest’s governance and public perception.
Official discussions about Israel’s involvement in Eurovision have been ongoing since the summer of 2025, but so far, no consensus has been reached. The EBU acknowledged the "unprecedented diversity of views" among its members. In September, EBU President Delphine Ernotte Cunci announced plans for an extraordinary general assembly and an online vote, expected to take place in November, that could determine Israel’s fate in the contest. "We are still consulting with all EBU Members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Song Contest," a Eurovision spokesperson told HuffPost UK.
Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm their participation in the 2026 event. The stakes are high: while France has affirmed its participation regardless of Israel’s status, several other countries—including Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia—have threatened to withdraw if Israel is not banned from the competition. Spain has gone so far as to state it will not return to Eurovision in 2026 if Israel is allowed to compete again, according to HuffPost UK.
Germany’s broadcaster Südwestrundfunk (SWR) has echoed Chancellor Merz’s sentiments, emphasizing the contest’s apolitical and inclusive nature. "The Eurovision Song Contest is a major musical event that has brought people across Europe and beyond together for decades—diverse and respectful, regardless of origin, religion, or belief. The ESC is a music competition organized by EBU broadcasters, not governments. The Israeli broadcaster KAN adheres to applicable regulations and has been an integral part of the music competition for more than 60 years. We affirm their membership and the core values of the ESC," a SWR spokesperson told HuffPost UK in July.
Germany’s culture minister, Wolfram Weimer, also weighed in, condemning calls to boycott the event if Israel remains part of it. In a statement issued on October 7, 2025, Weimer said, "Eurovision was founded to bring nations together through music. Excluding Israel today goes against this fundamental idea and turns a celebration of understanding between peoples into a tribunal. It’s precisely because Eurovision was born on the ruins of war that it should not become a scene of exclusion. Eurovision is based on the principle that artists are judged on their art and not on their nationality. The culture of cancellation is not the solution—the solution is diversity and cohesion."
Yet the debate is far from one-sided. The ongoing war in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has led to at least 67,173 Palestinian deaths and left much of the enclave devastated, according to ARD. This humanitarian crisis has fueled calls from several European broadcasters and activists to ban Israel from Eurovision 2026, citing the precedent set in 2022 when Russia was expelled from the contest following its invasion of Ukraine. Protests against Israel’s participation have been held around Eurovision venues in Sweden (2024) and Switzerland (2025), and even past winners—such as Nemo (2024) and JJ (2025)—have voiced criticism of Israel’s inclusion.
The movement to exclude Israel from Eurovision is part of a broader wave of cultural boycotts, including calls for FIFA and UEFA to ban Israel from football and academic boycotts of Israeli universities. The issue has become a flashpoint in the wider debate over cultural, economic, and academic sanctions as tools of international pressure.
For its part, Israel’s broadcaster KAN has expressed hope that Eurovision will "continue to maintain its cultural and apolitical character," warning that exclusion "could be a step with wide-ranging implications." The EBU, while officially apolitical, has already demonstrated its willingness to act in response to geopolitical conflicts, most notably with Russia’s ban in 2022. Moscow has repeatedly condemned such reprisals, arguing that attempts to "cancel" Russian culture abroad will ultimately fail.
Chancellor Merz’s position is rooted in Germany’s longstanding support for Israel, though he did acknowledge in his ARD interview that some of Israel’s actions in Gaza have "gone too far." He emphasized, however, that "Germany’s solidarity with Israel has never been in question," and stated, "my personal feelings towards Israel are entirely positive." Germany temporarily halted arms exports to Israel in August 2025 but has since resumed them, reflecting a complex and evolving stance on the conflict.
The BBC’s director-general addressed the controversy in September 2025, noting that data shows British Eurovision fans are overwhelmingly in favor of Israel’s expulsion, paralleling the public response to Russia’s ban in 2022. This sentiment underscores the growing influence of public opinion on the contest’s political dimensions, as well as the challenge Eurovision faces in balancing its apolitical ideals with real-world events.
As the EBU’s vote approaches, the future of Eurovision hangs in the balance. Will the contest remain an inclusive celebration of music, or will it become another arena for geopolitical disputes? The decisions made in the coming months will not only determine Israel’s participation but could also reshape the identity and mission of Eurovision for years to come.
For now, broadcasters, artists, and fans alike are left waiting—wondering not just who will sing on stage in Vienna, but what values the contest will ultimately represent when the curtain rises in May 2026.
