Israel allowed to take part in Eurovision 2026 - as at least two countries withdraw
Israel will be allowed to compete in next year's Eurovision Song Contest - with two broadcasters saying they will now boycott the event.
news.sky.comHere’s the latest Eurovision 2026 news based on current publicly available reports:
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Host city and event details: Eurovision 2026 is confirmed to take place in Austria, with Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna slated as the venue for the final in May 2026. Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski are announced as hosts, with Emily Busvine assisting as the green room host.
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Format and schedule: The contest will feature two semi-finals (on May 12 and May 14, 2026) and a final on May 16, 2026.
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Participations and changes: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has extended the participation deadline into mid-December 2025 for broadcasters, with a growing number of countries confirming entries for 2026, though there have been withdrawals and ongoing discussions about participation from several broadcasters.
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National selections and entries: Multiple countries are detailing how they will select their entries for 2026, including national finals, internal selections, and submission windows. Examples include ongoing updates from Albania, Finland, Greece, and others as part of the season’s planning.
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Notable news and rumors: Media coverage in late 2025 and 2026 up to April has highlighted topics such as the potential selection processes for host-country Austria, rumors about artists, and the evolving lineup of participating countries as broadcasters evaluate costs and logistics.
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Public interest and coverage: Entertainment outlets and Eurovision-focused channels continue to publish weekly updates, previews of participating artists, and behind-the-scenes looks at the venue and production plans for Vienna.
If you’d like, I can pull a short, up-to-the-minute recap from specific sources (e.g., official Eurovision site, national broadcasters) and summarize any particular country’s plans for 2026.