The organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have postponed a vote on whether Israel should be allowed to perform in next year's competition.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said 'recent developments in the Middle East' prompted it to cancel the virtual meeting scheduled for November to discuss the issue.
Instead, Israel's participation will be discussed at an in-person meeting set for December, although the EBU did not clarify if a vote would take place during that session.
Israel's participation has faced growing opposition from several other countries participating in Eurovision, primarily due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Recently, all 20 living Israeli hostages were freed by Hamas in a prisoner exchange, coinciding with a ceasefire that began on Friday.
The EBU stated that in light of recent events, there was a clear need for open discussion among its members about participation in the 2026 contest. Consequently, the matter will be on the agenda for the EBU's winter general assembly in December rather than an extraordinary meeting.
Last month, the EBU indicated it would invite 68 member countries to express their views on whether Israel should participate at the planned November assembly.
Austrian national broadcaster ORF, which will host Eurovision in 2026, welcomed the EBU's decision, asserting that Eurovision and the arts should not be arenas for political sanctions.
Countries like Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands have indicated they might boycott the contest if Israel is allowed to participate. The Dutch broadcaster AvroTros affirmed that its position would not change even with a ceasefire.
The BBC has reached out to Israel's national broadcaster, Kan, for comment. In September, Kan advocated for Israel's participation, stating its history as a successful Eurovision entrant.
Israel recently secured second place in 2025's contest, with agent Yuval Raphael receiving the most combined votes from the public.
