Overview
- Spain’s exit is its first since 1961 and removes a member of the contest’s Big Five funders from next year’s event.
- EBU members approved reducing public votes from 20 to 10 per payment method, restoring juries in the semi‑finals, and discouraging government or third‑party campaigning.
- The BBC, France and Germany publicly backed Israel’s inclusion, highlighting a split with broadcasters that are pulling out.
- Iceland said it is considering its position and Belgium has yet to decide, with the EBU expected to publish the participant list before Christmas.
- Withdrawing broadcasters linked their decisions to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to concerns over political mobilization of votes after Israel’s 2025 entry surged in the public poll.