Eurovision changes hosting rules for broadcasters in states involved in armed conflict

The European Broadcasting Union has changed the rules for the Eurovision Song Contest so broadcasters will no longer be eligible to host if their state is involved in an armed conflict or what it described as a sensitive geopolitical situation. The new rule applies to the 2027 contest and was announced after feedback from participating broadcasters. The next Eurovision is due to take place in Bulgaria in 2027 after singer Dara won for the country in May.

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The EBU said the revised rules are intended to give greater clarity for artists and production staff and to help ensure the contest provides a safe and welcoming environment. Eurovision is traditionally hosted by the previous year's winning broadcaster, but the new framework creates a formal eligibility test for host countries. In situations that do not amount to armed conflict, the winning country will be assessed by an independent security body to help the EBU decide whether it can safely host.

The change comes after years of protests over Israel's participation in the contest. Five long-time participants - Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia - boycotted this year's competition in Vienna after organisers declined to exclude Israel over its conduct in the war against Hamas in Gaza and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel has competed in Eurovision since 1973 and finished second in this year's contest, as it did in 2025.

The rule change is significant because hosting Eurovision is both a cultural prize and a logistical responsibility with international visibility. By linking eligibility to armed conflict and other sensitive geopolitical situations, the EBU is trying to reduce pressure on the contest as it faces disputes that have increasingly spilled beyond music into diplomacy and public protest. The decision also reflects the challenge for organisers of maintaining a pan-European event while managing political tensions among member broadcasters.

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Eurovision song contest director Martin Green said the annual review of the rules was part of keeping the contest fair, transparent and consistent for participants and the millions who follow it globally. He said the changes were designed to protect artists and preserve the spirit and integrity of the event. The EBU also said that if a winning member is ruled ineligible, it will identify an alternative host broadcaster to assume the rights and obligations of staging the contest.

What remains unclear is whether any broadcaster could be ruled out under the new criteria in future years, or how the independent security assessment will be applied in practice. It is also not known when, or if, the boycotting countries will return to the contest. The next major test will come if the 2027 winner is from a state facing conflict or another sensitive geopolitical situation, when the EBU will have to decide whether to activate the alternative hosting process.

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