Overview
- EBU members approved new statutes by 738–264–120, with no separate vote held on Israel’s participation.
- The measures cut paid televotes to 10 per viewer, restore professional juries in semifinals, expand detection of coordinated voting, and raise jurors per country to seven.
- RTVE confirmed Spain will not compete or broadcast, its first absence since 1961, while AVROTROS (Netherlands), RTÉ (Ireland) and RTVSLO (Slovenia) also withdrew.
- Germany’s ARD, Austria’s ORF and the BBC supported Israel’s inclusion and the reforms, and Israeli officials publicly welcomed the decision.
- Other members remain undecided ahead of participation deadlines around December 10, leaving the May 2026 Vienna contest with uncertain scope.