The EBU partners with YouTube to offer free Eurovision 2026 streaming in the USA, impacting the crucial Rest of the World vote.
The Eurovision Song Contest is taking another significant step toward establishing a permanent foothold in the United States. The EBU has signed a global agreement with YouTube, ensuring that Eurovision 2026 will be broadcast for the first time for free and without restrictions to the American audience.
The announcement, first revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, took place during the “StreamTV Europe” industry conference held in Lisbon. Jurian Van Der Meer, the EBU’s Commercial Director, confirmed that starting with the 70th edition of the contest to be held in Vienna, viewers in the USA will no longer be required to pay for a subscription to the Peacock streaming service to watch the show. While Peacock will continue to broadcast the event, the American public can now enjoy the Semi-Finals on May 12th and May 14th, and the Grand Final on May 16th, directly on YouTube.
“So far, we didn’t really have a long-term strategy for distributing our content,” Van Der Meer admitted on stage in Lisbon, noting that the new deal could potentially include easier access to national selection broadcasts in the future.
The Impact on the “Rest of the World” Vote
For those wondering why the EBU is investing so much effort into making the contest accessible to the American public, the answer lies within the scoreboard. As of the 2023 contest in Liverpool, the national broadcasters involved in the steering committee revolutionized the rules by introducing the “Rest of the World” voting category. This category allows viewers from non-participating countries – including the United States – to vote online and directly influence the results. All “Rest of the World” votes are aggregated and awarded as if they were an additional participating nation, providing the standard 1-8, 10, and 12 points.
Now that the Peacock paywall is being lowered and the YouTube broadcast is opening for free, the American voting potential is expected to skyrocket. This demographic could become a decisive and surprising factor in the battle for victory in Vienna. This year, more than ever, the move could have a dramatic impact. Unlike previous years, there is currently no clear runaway favorite to win. In a situation where the competition is closely fought and entirely open, the massive volume of votes from the United States could be the exact weight that tips the scales and decides who will lift the glass trophy.
Political Tensions and the 70th Anniversary
As previously covered extensively by EuroMix, the 70th-anniversary celebrations in Vienna are accompanied by ongoing political drama after five countries – Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain – announced they would boycott the competition. The central reason for this move is related to the overwhelming support for the Israeli entry in the public vote last year and the tensions surrounding the war in Gaza.
During the panel in Lisbon, Van Der Meer was asked about the issue and provided further comment on the crisis: “Politics does come in once in a while, unfortunately,” the official explained. “The music is what we will have [our] focus on. We welcome everybody, but we also understand and respect … that people are having certain views“ It is worth noting that despite the official boycott from participation, the Dutch national broadcaster and the Icelandic national broadcaster still plan to air the contest on their local channels.
The Future of Eurovision Asia
When discussing expansion, the mention of Eurovision Asia is inevitable. As already reported following the official EBU announcement, the new competition is set to launch on November 14th in Bangkok, Thailand.
However, the Lisbon panel provided an interesting glimpse into the behind-the-scenes discussions regarding the branding of the new competition. When the panel moderator asked Van Der Meer why the contest does not use the catchier name “Asiavision” instead of the current, more cumbersome title, the EBU official admitted with a smile that there are “There’s a little debate“ regarding the matter at this very moment.
Do you think Eurovision is on its way to conquering America with these free broadcasts? How do you think the American audience will shift the global voting map? Let us know in the comments!
Eurovision 2026: the 70th edition of the contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026. The Wiener Stadthalle arena, which will host the event, is expected to accommodate around 16,000 spectators per show. The contest returns to Austria following the nation’s third historic win with the song “Wasted Love”, performed by JJ. It will be Austria’s third time hosting Eurovision, after previous editions held in the country in 1967 and 2015.
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Roie is a journalist, content creator, and commentator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. His extensive knowledge and in-depth familiarity with the Eurovision world are reflected in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
