The European Broadcasting Union has postponed a planned online vote on whether Israel should be allowed to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, citing recent developments in the Middle East, including a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The vote was initially scheduled due to mounting pressure from several countries threatening to boycott the contest if Israel participated. Austria, the host nation for the 2026 event, welcomed the decision to delay the vote, and its leaders stated they would not host Eurovision if Israel were excluded. The issue will now be discussed in person at the Winter General Assembly in December, with no confirmation yet on whether a vote will still take place. Several countries, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands, have threatened to boycott the event if Israel participates, while others, such as Denmark and Germany, have taken opposing stances. The controversy follows increased calls to exclude Israel after the recent conflict in Gaza and contentious results in the 2025 contest.