Eurovision’s audience fell from 166 million in 2025 to 131 million in 2026. The drop came in the year the contest marked its 70th anniversary, as five broadcasters stayed away over Israel’s participation during the war on Gaza.
The Netherlands, Spain, Iceland, Slovenia and Ireland all boycotted the 2026 event. Participation also hit a significant low point. Now the organisers are looking beyond Europe, toward Asia and Canada, while trying to settle arguments that have reached the heart of the show.
A Divided Stage
Ireland has confirmed it won’t take part for a second time in a row. The Netherlands is a different case. Its usual Eurovision broadcaster had said it would again snub the show, arguing that it refused to take part in an event that “can no longer be considered neutral, with a participating country still involved in a large-scale military conflict.” The Dutch public broadcasting association NPO then decided to resume participation.
Spain, Iceland and Slovenia haven’t made official announcements about 2027. Broadcasters have until mid-October 2026 to withdraw their applications without a financial penalty.
Contest director Martin Green spoke to DW at the European Broadcasting Union’s annual workshop in mid-September and stressed the contest’s founding idea. “Bringing the world together through music has always been an incredibly powerful idea and has stood the test of time for 70 years,” he said. “And I think the more difficult the world gets around us, the more important these shows of unity, these shows of togetherness become.”
New Rules on Hosting and Voting
In August, organisers announced new hosting rules. The winning broadcaster won’t be eligible to host if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other situation materially affects the security, safety or stability of its state or immediate region. The rule names no country. The report said organisers intended it to avoid holding the show in Israel, which came close to winning in 2025 and 2026.
The contest has moved before. The United Kingdom hosted the 2023 event on behalf of Ukraine because of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Voting is changing too. Viewers can currently cast up to 10 votes per payment method by phone, text message or online. Organisers cut the cap from 20 to 10 after a controversy in 2025, when the Israeli government encouraged Israelis to register multiple votes for its contestant. They now plan to move voting entirely online and require voters to pick three acts instead of one.
Bulgaria Prepares, Canada and Asia Join
Bulgaria will host the 2027 contest in Burgas, on the Black Sea coast, after singer Dara won in Vienna with “Bangaranga.” Residents celebrated the selection with spontaneous music, dance performances and flash mobs, said Milena Milotinova, general director of public broadcaster BNT. “This will be the first time Bulgaria has organized such a large-scale event at such a high level,” she told DW. Bulgaria first took part in 2005. “We are in the midst of frantic preparations. There are no days off,” Milotinova said.
Beyond Europe, Eurovision Song Contest Asia is scheduled to debut in November 2026 in Bangkok, with eleven countries taking part. Organisers are talking with more Asian countries about joining in 2027. A Latin American spin-off was announced earlier but hasn’t materialised.
Canada will debut in 2027, an addition announced in July. Active members of the European Broadcasting Union can participate, regardless of Europe’s geography. Australia joined as a special participant in 2015 and has competed since. Israel’s public broadcaster has competed regularly since 1973.
For Canada, the move is also a strategic effort by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to deepen cultural and diplomatic ties with Europe. Its budget included $150 million Canadian (€93 million, $106 million) in funding for the broadcaster. “This is the biggest global music event,” said Jennifer Dettman, Canada’s head of delegation. “So it’s an opportunity to put our artists on this global stage.”
Why This Matters: Eurovision is a rare shared cultural event run by public broadcasters across borders. The 2026 boycotts show how hard it is to keep that space apart from the war on Gaza and Russia’s war on Ukraine. A fall from 166 million to 131 million viewers gives a measurable sign of the strain.
For European cooperation, broadcasters’ choices—including whether to withdraw by the mid-October deadline—will show if the contest can hold its members together. The new hosting and voting rules try to answer concerns over neutrality and manipulation. Whether audiences and broadcasters accept them remains open. Canada’s state funding and the Asian edition show the brand is growing abroad even as its home audience contracts.