Following public vote controversies and boycotts, Eurovision organisers have updated competition rules to bar winning countries involved in armed conflicts from hosting the following year. The European Broadcasting Union also restructured voting systems, reduced fan vote limits, and brought back juries for semifinals ahead of the 2026 contest in Vienna.
Rule Changes Target Host Cities Embroiled in Armed Conflict
Organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have updated their governing regulations to address the geopolitical pressures surrounding the competition. Under the new amendment, if a country involved in an armed conflict wins the competition, it will be ineligible to host the event the following year.
The updated rules state that winning countries will also be disqualified from hosting if a sensitive geopolitical situation
affects security, safety, or the stability of their state or immediate region.
The policy shift arrives in the wake of intense debate surrounding Israel’s participation in the contest amid military actions in Gaza and the Middle East. During the competition in Basel, Switzerland, entrant Yuval Raphael performed New Day Will Rise
and placed second overall after topping the public voting charts, mirroring Israel’s runner-up finish the previous year. Those results sparked friction across the broadcast community, with broadcasters from Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Iceland, and Finland requesting audits of the public tally.
While Israel remains a central focal point for the adjustment, the policy also impacts Ukraine, which has fought a protracted war following the Russian invasion in 2022. When the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra won the contest that same year, organisers undertook a full assessment and feasibility study
to determine whether Kyiv could safely host the subsequent event. Deciding the security risks were too high, organisers ultimately moved the 2023 competition to Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Voting System Restructured With Lower Limits and Returning Semifinal Juries
Alongside host country restrictions, the European Broadcasting Union has overhauled the voting mechanics and promotional guidelines for the upcoming 2026 Grand Final scheduled for Saturday, May 16. Fans will now be restricted to casting 10 votes each, down from the previous limit of 20.
Semifinal juries are also returning for the first time since 2022, establishing a 50-50 split between jury and audience votes during the final. To reinforce impartiality, the number of jurors per panel has increased from five to seven, and all participants must sign formal declarations promising independent and impartial voting.
Furthermore, the governing body is tightening promotional rules to prevent external interference. Participating broadcasters and artists are now explicitly barred from engaging in or contributing to third-party promotional campaigns that could influence the voting outcome and, as outlined in the updated Code of Conduct, any attempts to unduly influence the results will lead to sanctions. Reports noted that an Israeli government agency previously funded advertisements and utilized state social media channels to rally support for Raphael’s entry.
Boycott Threats and Broadcaster Pushback Shape the Road to Vienna
The structural reforms follow a wave of threatened boycotts from member broadcasters. Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia previously warned they would skip the 2026 competition unless Israel was excluded. Last November, five broadcasters enacted boycotts following an unsuccessful push to suspend Israel from the network.
Despite the fractures within the membership, Eurovision director Martin Green emphasized that the changes aim to restore confidence in the contest’s administrative framework and protect its core mission.
Martin Green, Eurovision director, stated that they had listened and acted, emphasizing that the neutrality and integrity of the Eurovision Song Contest are of paramount importance to the EBU, its members, and all their audiences, and adding that it is essential for the fairness of the Contest to be always protected.
Organisers maintained that the voting results from recent events were fully verified and valid, but acknowledged that extra safeguards were necessary. Green noted that the adjustments are designed to keep the focus where it belongs — on music, creativity and connection so that audiences can trust the integrity of the results.
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