The Eurovision Song Contest’s organizers have revised its regulations to stipulate that a nation engaged in armed conflict will not be permitted to host the competition the next year if it wins.
during input from participating broadcasters during Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, the contest’s organizing committee accepted the adjustment.
A “sensitive geopolitical situation” that compromises the “security, safety or stability of their state or immediate region” will also exclude winning nations from hosting.
Eurovision Changes Hosting Rules for Countries at War
Given criticism of Israel’s military activities in Gaza and the Middle East, the update will be seen as a response to Israel’s ongoing attendance at the competition.
Five broadcasters, including powerful Eurovision nations Spain and Ireland, declared they were boycotting the competition in November of last year after an unsuccessful attempt to have Israel suspended.
Israel’s Noam Bettan finished second with his song Michelle in spite of the protests.
Israel finished second for the second consecutive year, and several of the participating broadcasters have privately voiced worries about the safety of the competition being held in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv in the event that the nation wins in the future.
How Eurovision Decides Where to Host the Contest
In a symbolic display of popular support, the Ukrainian ensemble Kalush Orchestra went on to win Eurovision the same year.
In order to determine if the 2023 competition might take place in Kyiv, Eurovision organizers conducted a “full assessment and feasibility study” after they won.
In the end, they concluded that the security threats were too high, thus the UK elected to hold the tournament in Liverpool.
The UK hosted the competition on behalf of Ukraine the following year, but Kalush Orchestra’s song Stefania won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest.
The EBU, which hosts Eurovision, “may commission an independent security assessment of the winner’s region” “where deemed necessary” according to the new regulations, which formalize that procedure.
Eurovision Raises Age Limit and Clarifies Backing Track Rules
“Following that assessment, the EBU will consult the Reference Group to determine whether the winning member is able to safely host the Contest.”
The EBU will choose a different broadcaster to host the event if the winning nation is judged incapable of doing so.
The fact that they “will not be required to stage the event on behalf of another member” is significant. (In 2023, it collaborated with its Ukrainian equivalent to incorporate the nation’s history into the competition).
Tuesday’s announcements also clarified restrictions regarding the usage of backing tracks and increased the minimum age to compete in Eurovision from 16 to 18.
Only the lead vocalist has performed live since 1999, when live instruments were essentially outlawed.
