Germany’s Not-So-Grand Exit: SWR Swats Away Talk of a Eurovision Flounce
A Rumour, a Rebuttal and a Raised Eyebrow
The German public broadcaster SWR has poured a bucket of cold Rhein water over headlines suggesting Berlin will storm out of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel is shown the exit. In comments to HuffPost UK, SWR reminded everyone that Eurovision is “a musical event run by **EBU broadcasters, not governments”, and added that Israeli broadcaster KAN “fully adheres to the rules” after more than sixty years in the club.
Where Did the Story Come From?
Blame the grapevine. Israeli outlet N12 News reported that both Germany and Italy had threatened a walk-out should Israel be barred because of the war in Gaza. Cue dramatic headlines about a continental melodrama worthy of three key changes and a wind machine.
Why Germany’s Voice Matters (Hint: Money Talks)
Germany sits in Eurovision’s “Big Five”—the countries whose sizeable cheques guarantee them a place in every grand final. If Berlin actually packed up its LED screens, the EBU’s budget would suddenly feel several million euros lighter and the automatic-finalist rule might wobble harder than a UK jury vote.
The EBU’s Tightrope Walk
Director-General Noel Curran has commissioned an external mediator to hold “structured, open dialogue” with all member broadcasters before autumn, hoping to find a “sustainable solution”. Translation: keep the show together, hold on to the sponsors and avoid anyone singing alone in an empty arena.
Meanwhile, in the Fan Zone…
Pressure to eject Israel hasn’t exactly fizzled out: a clutch of former contestants—among them reigning champion JJ (Austria 2025) and 2024 winner Nemo (Switzerland)—have publicly backed a boycott. On the other flank, heavyweight contributors like Germany insist that politicising the line-up could make Eurovision look less like a song contest and more like a summit with sequins.
So, Will Germany Actually Quit?
Highly unlikely—unless the EBU bars Israel without a watertight legal basis, something the Union has repeatedly dodged. For now, SWR’s message is classic Teutonic understatement: we’re in, let’s keep the music on, and please stop shaking the piggy-bank.
Source: Huffington Post Uk
