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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Philip Oltermann European culture editor

European broadcasters to vote on expelling Israel from Eurovision 2026

Yuval Raphael smiles holding an Israeli flag behind her head on stage
Yuval Raphael represents Israel at the 2025 Eurovision song contest in Basel, Switzerland. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

The European Broadcasting Union has confirmed it will hold an online vote in November that could see the Israeli broadcaster Kan expelled from next year’s Eurovision song contest.

In a letter sent to participating broadcasters on Thursday, the EBU president, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, wrote there was an “unprecedented diversity of views” on Israel’s participation in Eurovision, and the issue required “a broader democratic basis”.

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