Overview
- EBU members in Geneva declined a direct vote on Israel’s status and approved contest reforms with roughly 65% support.
- Changes include cutting televotes per person from 20 to 10, restoring juries in the semi‑finals, and discouraging government or third‑party promotional drives.
- Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia announced withdrawals or non‑broadcasts citing Gaza’s death toll and neutrality concerns, with Spain’s absence set to be its first since 1961 despite Big Five funding status.
- France Télévisions, Germany and the BBC backed Israel’s inclusion, while Iceland said it is considering its position and other broadcasters remain undecided.
- Around 600 people protested in Melbourne urging Australia’s SBS to boycott, but SBS said it will air Eurovision 2026 to preserve editorial independence; Israel’s president welcomed participation and its foreign minister criticized the boycotts.