The Swedish national broadcaster SVT has issued a public statement on its position ahead of the General Assembly vote on Israel’s Eurovision Song Contest 2026 participation coming this November.
🇸🇪 SVT CEO issues statement on Eurovision participation
Ahead of the upcoming EBU member vote on Israel’s Eurovision Song Contest 2026 participation taking place in November, Swedish broadcaster SVT has released a statement. The current CEO Anne Lagercrantz has confirmed in an email to local Swedish media that Sweden will participate in the Vienna contest next May regardless of the General Assembly outcome.
“Many people want to know where SVT stands. SVT is independent – that is one of our cornerstones. We do not take a political position. It is we and no one else who makes the decision about our participation in ESC and the choices we make should not be interpreted as a position for or against any other country’s public service broadcaster or for or against any other country’s participation.
We understand that many people want an immediate answer to what SVT will do and there are many opinions about what is the right way. SVT’s participation is conditional on the basic conditions being in place. We will therefore spend time listening to the EBU and other member companies.
It is to show respect both for a difficult issue and for a beautiful idea of a cultural arena that wants to unite people through music.”
As well as this, Anne Lagercrantz outlines her main conditions moving forwards. The need for safety and security of the artists and audiences, broad support from all members for the contest and that the contest should be as apolitical as is possible and abide by the EBU rules.
Over recent weeks, tensions between the participating broadcasters of the Eurovision Song Contest and the EBU who organise the competition, have increased. Several broadcasters, including AVROTROS, Rai, RTÉ, RTVE, RTVSLO, RÚV have proposed the possibility of Eurovision withdrawal if Israel and its broadcaster KAN remain in the contest next May in Vienna, Austria. This comes following the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Along with the concerns the broadcasters have raised with the EBU for the previous two contests over Israel’s participation and the televoting results.
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 November to vote on Israel’s Eurovision 2026 participation. 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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