Eurovision winner JJ wants Israel excluded when the contest is held in Austria in 2026

The Eurovision Song Contest’s 2025 winner JJ has called for Israel to be banned from the competition when it is held in his home country Austria in 2026. 

At the Eurovision final on Saturday (17 May), Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael came first in the public vote, but JJ’s combined public and jury vote score meant he claimed overall victory with his song “Wasted Love”. 

While this year’s Eurovision entrants were barred from speaking negatively about other participating delegates during the contest, they are free to share their opinions now that the glass trophy has been won. 

“It’s very disappointing to see Israel still participating in the competition,” winner JJ told Spanish newspaper El País. 

“I would like Eurovision to be held in [Austria’s capital city] Vienna next year, without Israel. But the ball is in the EBU’s court. We, the artists, can only speak out on the matter.” 

The EBU’s decision to allow Israel to compete in the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland, prompted protests on the ground, with protestors gathering along Eurovision’s famous turquoise carpet to boo Raphael.

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