The Eurovision Song Contest will no longer automatically be hosted by the previous year's winner if the winning country is involved in an armed conflict or faces another situation that could threaten the safety and stability of the event.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the competition, introduced the rule as part of a broader update of the regulations for the 2027 contest. Under the new provision, “the winning broadcaster will automatically be ineligible to host the Contest if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other situation materially affects the security, safety or stability of their state or immediate region.”
The EBU said it could commission an independent security assessment when necessary. If the broadcaster in the winning country is determined to be unable to safely stage the competition, another broadcaster will be selected to host it.
The change comes after Eurovision faced growing disputes over the participation of countries involved in armed conflicts. Israel and Ukraine are among the countries that could potentially be affected by the new rule, with both having enjoyed strong results in recent editions.
Israel finished second in Eurovision in both 2025 and 2026. Five countries, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland, boycotted the 2026 contest in Vienna over Israel's participation, citing the war in Gaza. Israel is also currently involved in the war in Iran.
