Eurovision Vote - A vote is to be held on whether or not Israel should be allowed to participate in Eurovision next year. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has confirmed it will invite 68 member countries to give their view at a general assembly meeting in early November. In recent weeks, countries including Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and Spain have all said they would consider dropping out of Eurovision if Israel's involvement continued.
A decision will be taken by a simple majority, meaning that if more than 50% of members vote to exclude Israel, the country would not take part in 2026. Israel's continued participation in Eurovision has been controversial due to the ongoing war in Gaza, and several countries had already called for their exclusion.
The EBU confirmed all 68 member countries would be invited to vote, including broadcasters who don't take part in Eurovision such as Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, Jordan and Lebanon. Israel came second in the most recent Eurovision Song Contest in May, with its act Yuval Raphael receiving the largest combined public vote. However, the inclusion of jury votes led to Austria being declared the overall winner, and the next contest is scheduled to take place in Vienna.
Compensation - A council plans to pay compensation to a theatre company forced to close after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found in its roof two years ago. The Key Theatre in Peterborough is currently undergoing £2.19m of repairs, but due to unforeseen "complexities" with the work, the venue's reopening has been delayed until the new year. As a result, Landmark Theatres, the operator of the Key Theatre, has had to move its pantomime to a different venue.
Landmark Theatres, which operates the venue under a lease agreement with the council, has been forced to relocate or delay planned performances, including moving the 2025 Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime to the New Theatre on Broadway, which it also operates.
Half-time News - Puerto Rican pop star Bad Bunny will headline next year's Super Bowl half-time show in California. The singer and rapper, who has topped Spotify's most-streamed artist list in three of the past five years, will squeeze his hits into less than 15 minutes on US TV's most-watched night in February. In a football-themed statement, he said: "What I'm feeling goes beyond myself. It's for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown. This is for my people, my culture, and our history."
It comes after the star recently said in an interview with i-D magazine, he is avoiding the US on his current world tour out of concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents might conduct raids on fans at his concerts.
Island Music - The Cure, Lewis Capaldi and DJ Calvin Harris have been announced as the headliners for the 2026 Isle Of Wight Festival. The festival will run from 18 to 21 June at Seaclose Park in Newport, with Capaldi headlining on Friday, Harris on Saturday and The Cure closing the event on Sunday. Other acts announced include the Sex Pistols, featuring Frank Carter, indie rock bands The Last Dinner Party and Wet Leg, and US singer Teddy Swims.
Glastonbury - Glastonbury Festival's 2027 dates have now been released - with the event set to take place between 23 and 27 June. Organisers previously said 2026 would be a fallow year at Worthy Farm to enable the land to recover and the natural environment to regenerate. Co-organiser Emily Eavis said: "The fallow year is important because it gives the land a rest, it gives the cows a chance to be out for longer and reclaim their land."
Dolly Delays - Dolly Parton has postponed her forthcoming Las Vegas residency by nine months, telling fans she needs "a few procedures" to deal with ongoing "health challenges". In a statement posted on her social media accounts, the country music legend explained she wouldn't have enough time to rehearse for the six shows, which were scheduled to take place at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December. "I just need a little time to get show ready, as they say," she wrote, announcing rescheduled dates for September 2026.
(Jim Evans)