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) stated that recent developments in the Middle East had prompted it to cancel a planned virtual meeting set for November. Instead, discussions around Israel's participation will occur at an in-person meeting in December, though it remains unclear whether a vote will occur then.

Israel's involvement in Eurovision has met with opposition from several participating countries, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Gaza.

On Monday, all 20 living Israeli hostages were freed by Hamas in exchange for the return of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, following a ceasefire that commenced on Friday.

The EBU acknowledged in a statement that the board, meeting on October 13, felt there was a pressing need for open discussions among its members regarding participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.

As a result, the board has decided to place the matter on the agenda for its winter general assembly in December instead of arranging an extraordinary session beforehand.

The EBU previously invited 68 member countries to express their opinions on whether Israel should take part during the November assembly. The potential participation has been contentious, with several countries, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands, considering a boycott if Israel is allowed to enter.

Austrian national broadcaster ORF, which is set to host the contest, endorsed EBU’s decision, emphasizing that Eurovision and the arts are not suitable arenas for political sanctions.

Concerns persist as the Dutch broadcaster AvroTros maintained its position against Israel's participation, irrespective of the ceasefire, stating that it would reassess future participation based on developing circumstances.

The BBC has sought comments from Israel's national broadcaster, which previously insisted on its right to participate, arguing its long-standing and successful history in the contest.

Israel's representative, Yuval Raphael, secured second place in the most recent Eurovision Song Contest, achieving the highest combined public vote, although the overall victory went to Austria due to jury votes.