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The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will address mounting pressure from several member states to consider banning Israel from future Eurovision Song Contests, following an official proposal led by Iceland’s national broadcaster, RÚV.
The topic will be tabled during the EBU General Assembly in London, scheduled for July 3–4, according to a report by Eurovision Fun News. The demand stems from criticism over Israel’s participation in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Despite widespread protests and political tension, Israeli artist Yuval Raphael performed the song “New Day Will Rise” in Basel, Switzerland, ultimately placing second overall and securing first in the public vote.
Raphael, a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre, garnered attention for her emotional delivery during the grand final on May 17.
RÚV, Iceland’s public broadcaster, published minutes from its April board meeting confirming that Director-General Stefán Eiríksson had been instructed to vote in favor of excluding Israel from both the EBU and future editions of Eurovision, should the matter be formally presented.
The board cited “actions by the Israeli government towards residents of the Gaza Strip” as the rationale for the motion.
“If a proposal is made at the EBU level to expel the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation from the organization and/or the Eurovision Song Contest… the Board of Directors will recommend that RÚV support such a proposal,” the minutes read.
The board referenced the precedent set with the exclusions of Russia and Belarus following geopolitical conflicts involving those nations.
RÚV’s position has been reinforced by Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, who recently reiterated her government’s opposition to Israel’s participation. RÚV has confirmed that it conveyed this stance to the EBU.
Similar calls for a ban have emerged from other broadcasters in Ireland, Finland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. In April, Ireland’s broadcaster was reportedly assured by the EBU that Israel’s participation would be subject to “broader discussion among members,” as reported by Israeli outlet N12.
Eurovision Fun also reported that several contestants—both current and former—have backed the campaign to exclude Israel. Among them is this year’s overall winner, JJ from Austria, who has publicly voiced support for the ban.
Despite the political controversy, the EBU has consistently held that the Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political competition between member broadcasters, not governments.
The union emphasized that KAN, Israel’s public broadcaster, has complied with all rules and has not violated any regulations that would warrant suspension or expulsion.
In response to the debate, KAN issued a statement confirming it is moving forward with preparations for Eurovision 2026 in Austria, where the contest will be hosted following JJ’s victory.
As tensions rise ahead of the London assembly, the EBU faces renewed scrutiny over its ability to maintain the contest’s apolitical identity while balancing the political realities of its diverse membership.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members