Eurovision bars countries in 'armed conflict' from hosting song contest

In a bid to ensure fairness and transparency, Eurovision has amended its rules to bar nations engaged in armed conflict or in a sensitive geopolitical setting from hosting the annual song contest. The decision, though not explicitly naming any country, is believed to have been directed towards Israel, whose participation has been marred by controversy surrounding the ongoing conflict.

Five European nations boycotted this year’s Eurovision in Vienna, with the host country being selected based on the previous year’s contest winner. Ukraine, another highly-ranked participant, was previously represented by the UK in 2023 due to Russia’s invasion. The new rules, introduced following the European Broadcasting Union’s annual review, aim to provide clear guidelines for all participants, including artists and production teams.

The host country will automatically be disqualified if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other event significantly impacts the security, safety, or stability of their state or immediate region, according to the statement.

The controversy involving Israel began in 2019 when Tel Aviv hosted the contest. In 2024, Israeli artist Eden Golan finished fifth with her song Hurricane. Despite protests, Israeli singer Noam Bettan secured second place with his romantic ballad Michelle, and third place in the public vote. Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael also came second in 2025.

While Israeli participation has been influenced by geopolitical tensions, it has also drawn criticism for perceived unfair practices. Israeli broadcaster Kan urged voters to support contestant Eden Golan by voting multiple times. The Eurovision voting system combines jury points and public votes from participating countries, totaling 35.

However, voters cannot vote for their own country, leading to a recent rule change that halved the audience voting cap. This adjustment was made to avoid controversy surrounding Israel’s participation. Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland all withdrew from the contest in response to these changes.