Poland to take part in next year’s Eurovision, TVP says
Poland will take part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, the public broadcaster TVP announced on Wednesday.
The decision follows weeks of controversy over Israel’s participation, which prompted Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia to declare a boycott. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said its members had voted by a clear majority for the contest to remain a unifying celebration of music and the arts, adding that it expected around 35 broadcasters to take part in 2026.
TVP said it was aware of the tensions surrounding the upcoming edition but believed Eurovision "still has a chance to once again become a space filled with music," adding that it was giving the contest "that chance," in line with the stance of most EBU members.
The debate over Israel’s participation stems from the conflict in the Gaza Strip, where more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military operation, according to the German news agency dpa.
Other non-European countries, including Armenia and Australia, also take part in Eurovision, as active EBU members come from the wider European Broadcasting Area.
Germany and Austria strongly backed Israel’s participation and threatened to withdraw if it were excluded. France also welcomed the outcome of the EBU discussions.
Vienna will host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, with semi-finals scheduled for May 12 and 14, 2026 and the final on May 16 at the Wiener Stadthalle arena. The Austrian capital previously hosted the event in 1967 and 2015.
Eurovision is organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union, headquartered in Geneva, and was first held in 1956 in Lugano, Switzerland. (PAP)
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