Eurovision bars countries at war from hosting

Eurovision Song Contest organisers changed their rules Wednesday to exclude a winning country from hosting if armed conflict or a sensitive geopolitical situation affects security, safety or stability.

The contest is organised each year by the broadcaster from the previous winner's country and is a co-production of public broadcasters in the European Broadcasting Union.

Under the new rules, the winning broadcaster will automatically be ineligible to host if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation or another situation materially affects the security, safety or stability of its state or immediate region, organisers said.

The EBU said it could commission an independent security assessment before deciding whether a winning country can host safely. If not, it will appoint another host nation, which will organise the event in its own right rather than on behalf of another member.

The EBU includes members outside Europe, so the contest is not limited to European countries.

The statement did not name any country. Israel came close to winning in both 2025 and 2026, finishing second each time. Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland boycotted the 2026 edition in Vienna, saying they could not take part alongside Israel because of its war in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Ukraine hosted Eurovision in 2017 despite conflict in the country's east between Ukrainian forces and Moscow-backed separatists. After Ukraine won in 2022, it was unable to host the 2023 contest because of Russia's full-scale invasion, and the event was held in Liverpool in the United Kingdom on Ukraine's behalf.