Overview
- The EBU General Assembly in Geneva adopted a package of rule changes and declined to hold a separate vote on Israel’s participation, clearing Israel to compete in Vienna in May 2026.
- Public broadcasters AVROTROS (Netherlands), RTVE (Spain) and RTÉ (Ireland) announced withdrawals in direct response, with other members including Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia and Iceland weighing exits.
- Spain’s pullout is especially significant because it is one of the ESC’s Big Five funders with automatic finalist status, raising questions about the contest’s finances and scale.
- The reforms reintroduce professional juries to the semifinals, cut individual public votes to 10 from 20, and curb state‑backed or large‑scale promotional campaigns to bolster neutrality and trust.
- Austria’s ORF and Vienna officials expressed regret over boycotts but affirmed the event will proceed, following two years of protests and voting controversy tied to Israel’s strong public vote in Basel 2025.