Tim Davie, the Director General of the BBC has spoken to the press over the ongoing debate surrounding Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest and the BBC’s position ahead of the upcoming contest in Vienna, Austria next May.
BBC Director General Tim Davie “aware of the concerns”
During the recent Public Accounts Committee in Parliament, the BBC’s Director General, Tim Davie was asked to give the broadcaster’s position on Eurovision 2026 participation. This comes amid reports of numerous broadcasters proposing to withdraw from the upcoming contest taking place in Vienna, Austria next May if Israel remains a participant. A reaction to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“We’re very aware of the concerns. It’s obviously a well-debated topic and difficult. At this stage we are supportive of the European Broadcast Union’s work. They are going around discussing with members, working through all the processes by which they would be satisfied to make a decision one way or the other.
Eurovision has never been about politics, it should be a celebration of music and culture that brings people together. We need to see what the EBU decides.”
Recently the EBU confirmed the deadline extension for broadcasters to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 without taking a financial penalty. The new deadline is mid-December instead of the usual October date. A consultation meeting with broadcasters is expected to take place in early December. The full list of participants is expected to be released after this in late-December. Eurovision 2026 will take place in Vienna, Austria next May with two Semi-Finals on May 12 and 14. The Grand Final will be held on May 16.
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