Eurovision changes the rules, 'Countries at war will not be able to host the contest'

The Eurovision Song Contest has announced a major revision to its rules, stating that countries engaged in war will no longer be eligible to host the competition starting in 2027. According to the official statement released by the organizers, the winning broadcaster will automatically be ineligible to host the following year’s event if the country is involved in armed conflict, geopolitical tensions, or other situations that significantly impact national security, safety, or regional stability. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the contest, may commission independent assessments of the safety conditions in the region of the winning country. Following these evaluations, the EBU will consult with the Reference Group, its executive committee, to determine whether the winning nation can host the event. If the assessment concludes negatively, an alternative host will be selected, who will assume all responsibilities related to organizing the entire event. The new rule comes after recent controversies surrounding the contest. Last year, several countries, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Iceland, boycotted the Eurovision held in Vienna over Israel’s participation and the ongoing conflict in Palestine. This marked the first time multiple nations refused to take part in the event. Additionally, in 2017, Ukraine hosted the contest in Kyiv despite an ongoing conflict in the south of the country involving pro-Russian separatists supported by Moscow. However, in 2023, even though Ukraine won the previous edition with the song "Stefania" performed by Kalush Orchestra, the event was moved to Liverpool, United Kingdom, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Eurovision Song Contest is a joint production involving public broadcasters from EBU member states, including those outside Europe. Traditionally, the winner of one year hosts the following year’s event. Under the new guidelines, the EBU may conduct independent security assessments of the winning country’s region if deemed necessary. These assessments would influence whether the EBU’s executive committee deems the country suitable to host the contest. If not, an alternative host will be chosen, who will bear all organizational duties, including management, production, and staging of the event. The announcement does not explicitly name any specific country affected by the new rule. However, Israel came close to winning the contest in both 2025 and 2026, finishing second each year. The boycott last year by five European countries was linked to their objections to Israel’s military actions in response to attacks by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in October 2023. The situation highlights how geopolitical tensions can influence international cultural events and raise questions about the balance between artistic expression and political considerations. In past years, the contest has been held in countries facing complex security challenges. For instance, Ukraine hosted the event in 2017 amid the ongoing conflict in the east of the country. Despite this, the contest proceeded as planned. However, in 2023, Ukraine could not host the event after winning the previous year due to the large-scale Russian invasion. As a result, the event was relocated to Liverpool, where the UK-based broadcaster took responsibility for organizing the contest on behalf of Ukraine. The changes to the Eurovision rules reflect growing awareness of the potential risks associated with hosting high-profile international events in politically unstable regions. While the EBU has not specified any particular country that might be affected by the new policy, the inclusion of non-European members means the rule could apply globally. The organization emphasized that decisions regarding hosting rights will be based strictly on objective assessments of security and stability, ensuring the event continues to be a platform for musical talent while minimizing risks to participants and audiences alike.