Is the phone voting for the Eurovision Song Contest over?

The European Broadcasting Union has announced plans to end phone voting for the Eurovision Song Contest, citing concerns over campaign-driven outcomes. The proposed changes would shift public voting exclusively online, with participants required to select three favorite entries instead of casting multiple votes for a single artist. This follows growing scrutiny over the influence of political and commercial interests on the contest’s results. In 2025, Israel's government was accused of encouraging voters to cast maximum ballots for its entry, “New Day Will Rise,” performed by Yuval Raphael. Despite receiving only 15 points from the jury, the song secured more public votes than all other contestants, finishing in second place. National broadcasters raised questions about the Israeli placement, pointing to social media profiles linked to the government, including that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which urged supporters to vote repeatedly. Although the European Radiotelevision Union reduced the maximum number of votes per person to 10 in 2026, organizers were still forced to issue a formal warning to Israeli broadcaster KAN, whose representative had encouraged fans to vote 10 times for Israel. Eurovision officials stated such messages violated the spirit of the competition and requested their removal. The latest proposals aim to eliminate the possibility of a country casting all its votes for one contestant. However, dedicated fans could potentially bypass the system by creating multiple accounts using different payment methods. In a statement to BBC News, the EBU confirmed it is considering these changes. “We can confirm we have begun exploring a transition to exclusive public internet voting for Eurovision. More details will be released in the coming months.” The EBU has acknowledged that the current voting system influences how fans perceive the contest. “Even without large paid campaigns and under a voting system we can guarantee, it has become clear that today’s geopolitical climate encourages voting for certain artists for reasons that have little connection to their performances,” the union noted. This concern is not new, but recent instances have been frequent and deeply troubling. In a letter signed by EBU Executive Director Jean Philip De Tender and head of the Reference Group Ana Maria Bordas, they outlined two key changes: moving public voting entirely online and requiring voters to choose more than one candidate, such as three favorites. The switch to internet-based voting is partly due to the technical complexity of the existing system, which requires viewers to select multiple performers via SMS or phone calls. The United Kingdom has already moved to exclusive internet voting for this year’s contest. These changes reflect broader efforts to ensure fairness and transparency amid rising concerns about the impact of political and commercial pressures. Separately, the EBU revealed that Morocco’s oil company, Moroccan Oil, has ended its six-year sponsorship of Eurovision. The official reason for the termination was not disclosed. The brand had previously provided professional hairdressers and beauty products to all participating artists. However, the sponsorship faced criticism in recent years over protests against Israel’s participation during the Gaza war. These developments come amid a series of changes to the 70-year-old contest, including a rule banning countries involved in armed conflict or situated in politically sensitive regions from hosting the event. Minimum age requirements for performers have also been introduced.