Eurovision changes rules for countries at war

The Eurovision Song Contest has changed its rules, including a provision that prevents winning broadcasters from hosting the following year if they are involved in armed conflict or in a situation that could affect the safety of the event.

"The Eurovision Song Contest is constantly evolving, and our annual review of the rules is an important part of making sure the contest remains fair, transparent and consistent for all those who participate, including the millions who engage with the event globally," Eurovision director Martin Green said.

He also said that these changes are about giving everyone involved greater clarity, protecting artists and ensuring the contest continues to provide a safe and welcoming environment, while preserving the spirit and integrity that make the Eurovision Song Contest so special.

The changes follow an annual review by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the contest, and were made in response to feedback from participating broadcasters. 

Under the new rules, a winning broadcaster will "automatically be ineligible to host the contest if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other situation materially affects the security, safety or stability of their state or immediate region."

Traditionally, the contest is hosted by the previous year's winning broadcaster. The next edition is due to be held in Bulgaria in 2027, after singer Dara won the 2026 contest in Vienna with her song Bangaranga.

In the run-up to this year's competition, several countries, including Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia, withdrew after Israel's place in the contest was confirmed. The withdrawals followed criticism from some broadcasters of Israel's role in the competition amid the war in Gaza. 

In the final, Israel's Noam Bettan took second place with his song Michelle, the second year in a row the country finished as runner-up.

Although the rule change is widely seen as relating to Israel's participation, it will also apply to Ukraine, which has been at war since being invaded by Russia in 2022. Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 contest with their song Stefania. 

The EBU subsequently carried out an assessment to determine whether the following year's contest could be held in Kyiv and concluded that the security risks were too great. 

The UK hosted the event in Liverpool instead, working with its Ukrainian counterpart to reflect the country's heritage throughout the show.

The new rules formalise this process. Where deemed necessary, the EBU may commission an independent security assessment of the winning broadcaster's region before consulting the Reference Group to determine whether the winner can safely host. 

If a winning broadcaster is ruled ineligible, the EBU will identify an alternative broadcaster to "assume all rights, obligations and liabilities associated with hosting the contest.”

This broadcaster would organise the event "in its own right", rather than staging it on behalf of the ineligible winner.

Other changes announced include raising the minimum age for participation, with competitors now needing to be 18 from 2027, up from the current requirement of at least 16 on the day of their first rehearsal.

The rules on backing tracks have also been clarified. Live instruments have effectively been banned since 1999, with only the lead vocalist performing live. From next year, backing tracks may not "unduly assist" performers on stage, for example by including a pre-recorded voice singing the main melody. 

The EBU said the clarification is intended to protect the integrity of each performance and ensure audiences always hear the lead vocals sung live.

Canada was announced last month as the contest's newest entrant, taking part for the first time in 2027.