After Israel nearly won Eurovision, new rule could deny winner automatic hosting rights

The Eurovision Song Contest is introducing a new rule that could impact Israel's chances of hosting the event in the future. Under the revised regulations, winning the contest no longer automatically guarantees that the victorious country will host the following year's event, should security concerns, war, or geopolitical sensitivities pose a risk to its organization.

The provision is particularly relevant to Israel and Ukraine, both of which have experienced ongoing conflicts. This decision comes after Israel narrowly missed victory in the 2026 Eurovision contest held in Vienna, placing second with their entry. In such cases where the host country's ability to safely stage the competition is in question, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will commission an independent security assessment of the proposed host location.

Following the assessment, the EBU will determine whether the winning broadcaster can safely host Eurovision. If deemed unable to do so, another broadcaster will assume the rights, obligations, and responsibilities associated with producing, organizing, and staging the event. This new rule has precedents, as Ukraine was unable to host the 2023 contest after winning the previous year due to the EBU's determination that the war made it impossible to guarantee the safety of participants, staff, and spectators.

Instead, the contest was held in Liverpool, organized by the BBC in cooperation with Ukraine’s public broadcaster. The EBU has also raised the minimum age for Eurovision contestants from 16 to 18, citing the need to better protect young performers and address the intense pressure involved in participating in such a high-profile event.

Additionally, the rules governing live vocals have been clarified, emphasizing that the lead singer(s) must perform the song's main melody live, while backing tracks and pre-recorded elements remain permitted but cannot replace the live performance. These changes follow a major overhaul introduced ahead of the 2026 Eurovision in Vienna, prompted by controversies surrounding voting and promotion in previous contests, primarily centered on Israel.

The modifications include returning juries to both semifinals, limiting public votes per person from 20 to 10, and strengthening safeguards against coordinated or fraudulent voting and disproportionate third-party promotion, including government-backed campaigns. The EBU stated that these measures were aimed at preserving the contest's neutrality and preventing unfair influence on the results.

Bulgaria will host the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, with Canada making its Eurovision debut in the same year. For Israel, the most significant change is the new hosting provision, which could still allow them to win but would not guarantee they host the following year's event.