Eurovision once again puts a hurdle in front of Israel, the country that is the source of almost all its conflicts in recent years, but which it has not decided to expel. After the annual review organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the governing body of the event has approved a series of modifications and clarifications to the competition rules that will be held next year in Bulgaria. The main one prohibits a country in armed conflict from becoming the host of the contest even if it wins.
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“The contest rules now establish that the winning broadcaster will be automatically disqualified from organizing the contest if an armed conflict, a delicate geopolitical situation, or any other circumstance substantially affects the security or stability of its State or immediate region,” the EBU explained this Wednesday in a statement.
Therefore, when deemed necessary, the EBU may commission an independent security assessment of the winner’s region. After this assessment, the EBU will consult the Reference Group (its regulatory body) to “determine if the winning member is able to safely host the festival.” These changes would affect Israel, Ukraine, and possibly also Russia, as the organization does not close the door to its return.
If it is determined that the winning member cannot act as host, the EBU will appoint an alternative host broadcaster, it establishes in its new rules, which will apply to the next edition, scheduled for May 2027 in Sofia or Burgas, the two candidate cities currently vying to host after this year’s Bulgarian victory.
In the case of seeking a substitute country to host Eurovision, the designated host broadcaster “will assume all rights, obligations, and responsibilities associated with organizing the festival, including responsibility for the organization, production, and staging of the event. It will do so on its own behalf and will not be obliged to hold the event on behalf of another member,” the EBU specifies. In 2023, the city of Liverpool became the host of the music contest, but it did so representing Ukraine, the previous year’s winner, which was already facing the Russian invasion at that time. The British broadcast was full of references to Ukraine, something that will not be allowed in the future under this new regulation.
In this way, Eurovision cancels one of Israel’s great propaganda ambitions since it began its invasion of Gaza, increasingly questioned internationally: to directly or indirectly organize the music contest. This new regulation does not prevent Israel from continuing to aspire to the final victory, something it has come close to in recent editions thanks to a controversial televote, which has showered its candidates with points, thus ensuring they systematically finish in the top positions. “After Israel almost wins Eurovision, the festival changes its rules,” headlines the Israeli media Ynet today, following this EBU announcement.
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In recent years, the ways in which Israel has sought popular votes have violated the official contest rules, according to the EBU itself, which has threatened several times to take action against KAN, the Israeli public television.
Israel’s presence caused several countries, including Spain, to leave the contest. With this new regulation, the EBU tries to attract back some of the countries that dropped out of the contest last year, which led it to invite new participants, such as Canada. Israel’s presence in Eurovision 2026 cost the festival more than 35 million viewers, in an edition marked by Spain’s absence.
So far, RTVE has not commented after these new measures were announced. Iceland, one of the countries that followed Spain in its boycott of Israel, is considering its possible return to Eurovision in 2027 and plans to announce its final decision in autumn.
The other two rule changes announced by Eurovision for 2027 are related to live performances and the age of the artists participating in the contest. On one hand, the use of backing tracks and pre-recorded elements is allowed, but the lead vocal must be the only element performing the main melody. These elements cannot replace live vocal performance nor provide undue assistance, the new rules emphasize. On the other hand, from now on, all artists must be at least 18 years old on the day of their first rehearsal instead of 16, as had been the case in the festival.
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