Israel has been cleared to compete at next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after European Broadcasting Union members decided not to call a vote on its participation. 

Several countries had called for Israel to be excluded because of the war in Gaza.

Some had also accused Israel of unfair voting practices.

The news has prompted Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands to boycott the event.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said members backed new rules intended to discourage governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to sway voters after allegations that Israel unfairly boosted its entrant this year.

“This vote means that all EBU Members who wish to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and agree to comply with the new rules are eligible to take part,” the EBU said.

Moments after the EBU statement, public broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands — who had all backed Israel’s exclusion — said their countries would not take part next year.

“The situation in Gaza, despite the ceasefire and the approval of the peace process, and the use of the contest for political goals by Israel, makes it increasingly difficult to keep Eurovision a neutral cultural event,” said Alfonso Morales, the secretary general of Spain’s RTVE.

Ireland’s RTE said its participation would be “unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk”.

AVROTROS in the Netherlands said a Dutch presence at next year’s event “cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation”.

Iceland has previously threatened to withdraw, while others, including Belgium, Finland and Sweden, have also said they were considering a boycott over the situation in Gaza.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog welcomed the EBU decision and said his country “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”.

Reuters/AFP

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