Eurovision Song Contest Overhauls Voting โคRules Amidst โฃGeopolitical Concerns
GENEVA – The European Broadcasting Union (EBU)โ announced meaningful changes โคto the voting system ofโข the Eurovision Song Contest, โคeffective with the 2026 Grand Final on Saturday, May โข16. The revisions come following controversy surroundingโ the 2024 contest and escalating calls for Israel‘s exclusion due to the warโข inโค Gaza.
The EBU โขstated the “fairness โof theโ Contest is always protected,” emphasizing the importance of the event to its members and audiences. Recent editions โhave seen increasing geopolitical tensions impact the traditionally celebratory competition.
Several countries, including Ireland, the netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, threatened to boycottโ the โ2026 โคcontest if israel was allowed โฃto participate. The EBU had previously pledgedโ to discuss Israel’sโ participation with its members and hold a voteโ in November.
Under the new rules, fans will be limited to casting 10 votes each,โค down from 20. Juries will return for the semi-finals for the โขfirst time since 2022, establishingโ a 50-50โ split between jury and audience votes in the final. The number of jurors will increase from fiveโ to seven, and all jurorsโฃ will โขbe required to sign aโค declaration confirming independent and impartialโ voting. The EBU will โalso add jurors aged 18-25 to “reflect theโ appeal” ofโฃ the contest to โyounger audiences.
The EBU is also prohibiting participating broadcasters and artists from engaging in promotional campaigns byโ third parties that coudl influence voting outcomes.This follows reportsโข that an Israeliโ government โฃagency paidโข for advertisementsโค and utilized state socialโค media โฃto encourage votes for its contestant,โ Raphael, according to theโฃ BBC.
“These measures are designed to keep the focus where โคit belongs – on music, creativity โand โขconnection,” said EBU Director General Noel โGreen.”While we are โconfident the โข2025 Contest delivered โa valid andโ robust result,โฃ these changes will help provide strongerโ safeguards and increase engagement so fans โขcanโ be sure that every vote counts and โคevery voice is heard.”
Green added, “Theโ Eurovision Song Contest must always remain a place where music takes center stage – and โwhere we continueโ to stand truly โขUnited by Music.”