Overview

• Director-general Tim Davie said the BBC will wait for the EBU’s assessment of eligibility and assurances before confirming its involvement in the 2026 contest in Vienna.
• Public broadcasters in Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia have said they will not take part if Israel’s broadcaster KAN is allowed to compete.
• EBU chief Noel Curran said some members threaten to leave if KAN participates while others threaten to leave if it is excluded, underscoring sharply opposed positions within the union.
• The EBU board will consider the issue in November and then issue a recommendation for a membership vote, with no final decision yet taken on Israel’s status.
• Broadcasters must confirm entries by mid-December, and EBU leaders warn participation and audiences could shrink, raising financial stakes for major members including the UK and Spain.