Overview
- At a closed-door assembly in Geneva, the EBU declined to hold a separate exclusion vote and said the 2026 contest in Vienna will proceed under updated rules.
- The reform package reduces per-person televotes from 20 to 10, reinstates juries for qualification, requires juror independence declarations and targets coordinated voting.
- France confirmed it will participate and backed Israel’s presence, while Germany’s public broadcaster SWR and officials also defended Israel’s eligibility.
- Belgium, Iceland, Sweden and Finland said they are weighing participation decisions, with final lineups expected before Christmas according to the EBU.
- Analysts warn of organizational and financial strain for 2026 after Spain’s withdrawal, given its role as a major contributor to the contest.