The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 marks the 70th edition of Europe’s iconic music competition, hosted in Vienna after Austria’s victory in 2025. While the 2026 contest has been shaped by political controversy and several withdrawals, Eurovision remains one of the world’s largest live entertainment events, with broadcasters across Europe and beyond continuing to air the spectacle.
A total of 35 countries are officially participating in Eurovision 2026, each represented by a national broadcaster that is a member of the European Broadcasting Union. In addition, several non-participating broadcasters — including networks in the Netherlands, Iceland, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and the United States — will still transmit the contest to audiences at home.
The 35 Participating Countries and Their Broadcasters
The participating nations span Europe, the Caucasus, and Australia, continuing Eurovision’s tradition of combining diverse musical cultures on one stage. The broadcasters confirmed by the EBU are:
| Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Albania | RTSH |
| Armenia | AMPTV |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF |
| Azerbaijan | İctimai |
| Belgium | RTBF |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Cyprus | CyBC |
| Czechia | ČT |
| Denmark | DR |
| Estonia | ERR |
| Finland | YLE |
| France | France Télévisions |
| Georgia | GPB |
| Germany | ARD/SWR |
| Greece | ERT |
| Israel | KAN |
| Italy | RAI |
| Latvia | LTV / LSM |
| Lithuania | LRT |
| Luxembourg | RTL |
| Malta | PBS |
| Moldova | TRM |
| Montenegro | RTCG |
| Norway | NRK |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | RTP |
| Romania | TVR |
| San Marino | SMRTV |
| Serbia | RTS |
| Sweden | SVT |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Ukraine | Suspilne |
| United Kingdom | BBC |
The “Big Five” broadcasters — France Télévisions, ARD/SWR, RAI, BBC, and host broadcaster ORF — automatically qualify for the Grand Final due to their financial contributions to Eurovision.
Non-Participating Broadcasters Still Airing Eurovision
Although several countries chose not to compete in 2026, Eurovision’s popularity means the contest will still be broadcast in those territories.
Netherlands — NPO / NOS
The Netherlands withdrew from participation amid wider controversy surrounding Israel’s inclusion in the contest, but Dutch audiences can still watch Eurovision through Dutch public broadcasters NPO and NOS. The country remains one of Eurovision’s most passionate fan markets despite not competing this year.
Iceland — RÚV
RÚV also decided not to participate in Eurovision 2026 but continues to broadcast the contest domestically. Icelandic Eurovision fandom remains exceptionally strong, and the broadcaster chose to maintain coverage even while boycotting participation.
Kosovo — RTK
Although Kosovo is not an official Eurovision participant because its broadcaster is not a full EBU member, RTK will once again air all three live shows on RTK 1. Kosovo has broadcast Eurovision for two decades and has repeatedly expressed interest in eventually joining the contest officially.
North Macedonia — MRT
MRT returns as a Eurovision broadcaster despite North Macedonia not entering the competition this year. MRT has maintained Eurovision coverage even during previous non-participation periods, reflecting the contest’s enduring popularity in the Balkans.
United States — Peacock and YouTube
In the United States, Eurovision 2026 will once again be streamed on Peacock, continuing NBCUniversal’s partnership with the contest. For the first time in nearly a decade, American viewers can also watch Eurovision live on the official YouTube stream.
The move was welcomed by many fans online, especially after complaints about Peacock’s audio quality and advertising interruptions during previous editions. Reddit discussions among Eurovision fans described the YouTube availability as “an absolute win” for American audiences.
YouTube’s Expanding Global Role
The official Eurovision YouTube channel has become an increasingly important distribution platform, particularly for viewers in countries without a participating broadcaster. According to Eurovision organizers, the live shows are available worldwide on YouTube, though certain participating territories still apply geoblocks because of local broadcast rights agreements.
This hybrid model — combining national broadcasters with global streaming platforms — reflects Eurovision’s transformation from a European television event into a worldwide digital phenomenon.
A Contest Bigger Than Participation
Eurovision 2026 demonstrates that broadcasting the contest has become almost as significant as participating in it. Even nations sitting out the competition continue to dedicate airtime, streaming infrastructure, commentary teams, and fan programming to Eurovision week.
From traditional public broadcasters like BBC and SVT to streaming services like YouTube and Peacock, Eurovision 2026 will reach millions of viewers across continents — proving once again that the contest remains one of the world’s most internationally connected live television events.
