France announced on Friday that it will participate in Eurovision 2026 and expressed support for Israel's participation, contrary to the boycott initiated by countries such as Spain and Ireland. A spokesperson for France Télévisions reaffirmed support for the Israeli broadcaster KAN, in the context of Eurovision taking place in Austria in May. At the general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the majority of broadcasters decided not to vote on Israel's participation, contested due to its policy in Gaza.
This decision led to withdrawals from broadcasters in Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the EBU's decision not to yield to boycott pressures, emphasizing the importance of maintaining culture in the face of politics. However, the secretary general of RTVE mentioned the difficulties of keeping Eurovision as a neutral cultural event, considering the situation in Gaza. The EBU recently announced changes to the contest rules to prevent fraudulent voting.
Sources