GENEVA:
Some 35 nations will compete in subsequent yr’s Eurovision Track Contest in Vienna, organisers mentioned Monday, regardless of 5 nations boycotting over Israel’s participation within the glitzy annual extravaganza.
Widespread opposition to the conduct of Israel’s two-year conflict in Gaza had led to requires it to be excluded from the world’s largest dwell televised music occasion.
There have been suspicions, too, about manipulation of the televoting system to favour Israel.
On December 4, members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the world’s largest public service media alliance, agreed to modifications behind the scenes and determined no vote was wanted on Israel’s continued inclusion.
Public broadcasters in Iceland, Eire, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain duly introduced they’d boycott the seventieth version of the competition, to be held within the Austrian capital in Could.
Spain — alongside Britain, France, Germany and Italy — was a member of the so-called Massive 5: Eurovision’s important monetary backers, given a assured slot within the Grand Last, together with the host nation.
The Geneva-based EBU on Monday revealed the record of competing nations, asserting: “35 broadcasters will ship songs and artists to Vienna”.
A complete of 37 nations competed on this yr’s contest in Basel, Switzerland, gained by Austrian operatic singer JJ with “Wasted Love”.
Regardless of the five-country boycott, 35 will compete subsequent yr as Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova return to the competition after absences of three, two and one yr respectively.
The competition “stays a spot the place voices, cultures, languages and music are woven collectively. The place folks from many backgrounds can present that in a troublesome world a greater one is feasible,” Eurovision director Martin Inexperienced mentioned in a press release.
He mentioned the return of three nations was “a vivid reminder of… what it actually means to be united by music”.
Israel’s contestant in Basel completed second following an enormous public vote.
Underneath the brand new guidelines aimed toward assuaging broadcasters’ considerations, the utmost variety of votes per fee methodology shall be halved from 20 to 10.
Enhanced technical measures are being introduced in to detect and forestall coordinated or fraudulent voting exercise.
And the foundations now discourage “disproportionate promotion campaigns”, significantly these achieved or backed by third events, together with governments and state companies.
Juries again in semis
The brand new guidelines for 2026 are aimed toward preserving the “equity, integrity and spirit” of the competitors, the EBU mentioned Monday.
“These modifications mirror our dedication to making sure the Eurovision Track Contest stays a impartial house to showcase music, expertise and unity — free from undue affect and grounded in transparency.”
Juries will return to the Could 12 and 14 semi-finals for the primary time since 2022, with their factors being mixed with these of the viewers.
The EBU mentioned 15 nations would compete within the first semi-final and 15 within the second, with 10 going via from every to the Could 16 Grand Last. These 20 will be part of Austria, Britain, France, Germany and Italy in the principle occasion, that means there shall be 25 songs within the Vienna last, in comparison with 26 in Basel.
The semi-final draw is on January 12 in Vienna. Ticket gross sales start on January 13, with followers needing to pre-register earlier than Friday.
