EBU Clears Eurovision 2026 Under New Safeguards as Spain, Netherlands and Ireland Withdraw

Overview

• The EBU’s general assembly approved additional voting safeguards in a secret ballot and confirmed the 2026 contest will proceed as planned.
• Portugal’s public broadcaster RTP said it will take part under the revised rules.
• Spain’s RTVE announced it will not participate and will not broadcast the final scheduled in Austria.
• Broadcasters in the Netherlands and Ireland declared withdrawals, with Ireland also saying it will not air the event.
• Israel remains eligible under the new framework, and the EBU said the full participant list will be published before Christmas.