The Belgian broadcaster VRT has broadcast a “contextual programme” focusing on Israel’s participation in the 2026  Eurovision Song Contest which likely breached European Broadcasting Union  (EBU) and Eurovision rules.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has written to EBU and Eurovision officials demanding action against Belgian broadcaster VRT over the planned special programme.

The letter to EBU Director General, Noel Curran, and senior Eurovision officials, argues that the programme would breach Eurovision’s rules requiring the contest to remain “strictly non-political” and could undermine the integrity and neutrality of the competition.

The programme, announced by VRT on 24 April, was scheduled to air ahead of the Eurovision semi-finals and final. According to UKLFI, it focused heavily on what VRT described as the “controversial” participation of Israel and examined criticism of the EBU’s decision to allow Israeli broadcaster KAN to compete.

Although VRT is not Belgium’s participating broadcaster this year, it remains an EBU member and is therefore still bound by Eurovision’s Code of Conduct and broadcasting rules.

The Eurovision Song Contest Code of Conduct provides that the contest “is intended to remain strictly non-political” and must not be used “as a platform or forum for political expression, activism, controversy or the promotion of external causes or agendas.”

UKLFI also pointed out that during the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest political messages accusing Israel of “genocide” and calling for a ceasefire were broadcast during VRT’s transmission of the event. UKLFI noted that no disciplinary action was taken by the EBU at that time.

By contrast, UKLFI highlighted that Israeli broadcaster KAN recently received a formal warning from the EBU after the Israeli artist encouraged viewers to vote multiple times for his entry.

A spokesperson for UKLFI said:

“Eurovision’s own rules make clear that the contest must remain politically neutral. Allowing a member broadcaster to use Eurovision coverage as a vehicle for political campaigning against one participating country fundamentally undermines the integrity and inclusiveness of the competition.”

“The EBU must apply its rules consistently and impartially. Failure to act risks creating the impression that political attacks directed at Israel are treated differently from other breaches of Eurovision rules.”