More than 1,000 Entertainment Figures Oppose Calls to Bar Israel From Eurovision

Israel is expected to compete with a multilingual entry titled “Michelle,” performed by Noam Bettan during the first semi-final in May.

By Shula Rosen

More than 1,000 entertainment industry leaders signed an open letter organized by Creative Community for Peace backing Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna and opposing efforts to exclude the country from the competition.

The letter was signed by a range of actors, musicians, and producers, including Helen Mirren, Gene Simmons, Boy George, Amy Schumer, and Mayim Bialik. Additional signatories included Mila Kunis, Liev Schreiber, Scooter Braun, Debra Messing, Sharon Osbourne, and Diane Warren.

The initiative was launched in response to calls for Israel to be barred from Eurovision amid the current conflict in the region.

Organizers said the campaign to exclude Israel runs counter to the purpose of the contest.

“We have been shocked and dis­ap­poin­ted to see some mem­bers of the enter­tain­ment com­munity call­ing for Israel to be ban­ished from the con­test for respond­ing to the greatest mas­sacre of Jews since the Holo­caust,” the let­ter reads.

The statement argues that the competition should remain separate from political disputes and emphasizes its role as a shared cultural platform. The letter describes Eurovision as a “space of unity, creativity, and shared celebration.”

Addressing the broader significance of the event, the letter states, “We believe that uni­fy­ing events such as singing com­pet­i­tions are cru­cial to help bridge our cul­tural divides and unite people of all back­grounds through their shared love of music.”

The European Broadcasting Union has confirmed that the 2026 contest will proceed as planned with Israel included, despite mounting pressure from boycott groups.

Israel is expected to compete with a multilingual entry titled “Michelle,” performed by Noam Bettan during the first semi-final in May.

The letter frames support for Israel’s participation as part of a broader effort to maintain artistic collaboration across borders and resist calls for cultural exclusion tied to political disputes.