The 95th EBU’s General Assembly kicks off today in Geneva at the EBU’s Headquarters, with the Eurovision Song Contest voting rule changes and Israel’s participation on the agenda.
The EBU’s 95th General Assembly will be held in Geneva on the 4th and 5th December. One of the key topics on the agenda will be the Eurovision Song Contest: the implementation of the new rules and regulations regarding voting and the discussion regarding Israel’s participation at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Given the current geopolitical scenario and the war in Gaza several countries have threatened to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is not excluded from the competition: Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland.
The EBU has extended the deadline for broadcasters to confirm their participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 until mid-December due to this issue. The official list of the ESC 2026 competing countries will be released by the EBU before Christmas.
Hence the EBU’s members will discuss and ratify the new Eurovision Song Contest rules and regulations regarding the voting system and discuss Israel’s participation at the Eurovision Song Contest. If the members do not deem that these changes are sufficient a voting regarding participation will take place-
The 95th EBU’s General Assembly
The 95th EBU General Assembly will be held at the EBU Headquarters at Grand Saconnex in Geneva, Switzerland and will consist of 2 days.
The EBU is set to welcome broadcasters from 56 countries along with their general directors and heads of international relations.
The EBU holds two assemblies in a year: a summer one and a winter one, the winter one is usually held in Geneva.
A formal dinner will be held on 4th December 2025 for the General Assembly attendees.
The EBU’s General Assembly
The General Assembly is the supreme governing body of the EBU and possesses all powers necessary for accomplishing the Union’s objectives including the definition of the organization’s strategy and approval of its finances.
The Assembly meets twice a year: the summer session is open for all Members and Associates and is hosted by a Member organization; the winter session is limited to Members and is held in Geneva.
About the EBU
The EBU is based in Geneva, Switzerland and is a global alliance of public service media (PSM). The European Broadcasting Corporation has 68 active members in 56 countries and 31 associate members in 20 countries.
The EBU’s main target is to secure a sustainable future for public service media, providing its members with world-class content: news, sports and music etc. The EBU also aims building on its founding ethos of solidarity and co-operation to create a center for learning and sharing.
Mr. Noel Curran is currently the General Director of the EBU. The European Broadcasting Union is the organizer of the Eurovision Song Contest, an event it has been producing since 1956.
