A leading German cultural official has cautioned against excluding Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest, emphasizing the competition’s role as a platform for inclusivity and artistic celebration. State Minister for Culture, Wolfram Weimer, stated in an interview with the Tagesspiegel that the Eurovision Song Contest should serve as a place of encounter and diversity, rather than driving division or exclusion.
Weimer underscored the competition’s purpose as a festival for artists, not a political arena. He expressed confidence that the members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will consider this principle when making decisions regarding participation, urging them to vote with unity and openness, especially during challenging times.
The EBU recently confirmed plans for an online vote among its member countries to determine participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. This follows increasing calls to exclude Israel from the 2026 competition, slated to be held in Vienna, Austria, due to the situation in the Gaza Strip. Several participating broadcasters, including those from the Netherlands, Spain, Iceland and Slovenia, have indicated their intention to withdraw from the competition if Israel’s participation is not denied.
