The European Broadcasting Union has postponed until December a key vote on Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, citing uncertainty over the Gaza ceasefire and mounting pressure from broadcasters threatening to boycott the event.
Israel’s participation in next year’s Eurovision remains in doubt after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced on Monday that it would delay a decision on the country’s entry until December. The move follows calls from several member states to suspend Israel’s involvement amid the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
The EBU said it was cancelling a meeting originally planned for November, during which a final vote had been scheduled. The union said discussions would resume “once the situation in the Middle East becomes clearer.”
Austria, which will host the 2026 contest in Vienna after its victory last year, welcomed the delay. National broadcaster ORF said the decision “helped maintain the unity and credibility of the contest.”
The dispute marks one of the most serious crises in Eurovision’s 70-year history. Since Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel, the country’s entries have faced widespread protests. Thousands demonstrated outside the 2024 contest in Sweden, while activists in Basel earlier this year attempted to storm the stage during Israeli singer Yuval Raphael’s performance.
According to Israeli media outlet Ynet, the EBU has privately advised Israel’s delegation that it may need to perform under a neutral flag if it wishes to remain in the competition — an arrangement similar to that used for Russian athletes at the Olympics.
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is due to take place in Vienna, with semi-finals scheduled for 12 and 14 May and the finale on 16 May.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
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'One Battle After Another' tops the Oscars with 6 awards, followed by 'Sinners' which takes 4, 'Frankenstein' 3 and Netflix's most-watched film in its history, 'KPop Demon Hunters' winning 2. There was also the rare event of a tie.
The Academy Awards nominations have been announced, with the crime drama Sinners leading the race securing a record 16 nominations ahead of the ceremony set for 15 March. The event, which honours the film industry’s top achievements over the past year, will be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien.
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Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees has said a U.S. travel ban is preventing him from attending the 2026 Academy Awards this Sunday (15 March), where a film in which he stars is nominated for best international feature.
Netflix has announced a sequel to the hit animated film KPop Demon Hunters, with director Maggie Kang saying she is excited to show audiences what more is in store.
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