{"id":41982,"date":"2026-08-13T00:41:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T19:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41982"},"modified":"2026-08-13T00:41:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T19:41:42","slug":"eurovision-song-contest-changes-rules-for-countries-at-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41982","title":{"rendered":"Eurovision Song Contest changes rules for countries at war"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/tag\/eurovision\">Eurovision<\/a> Song Contest has today (August 12) announced rule changes for countries at war during the competition.<\/p>\n<p>Organisers have announced that if a country involved in an armed conflict wins the competition, it will be ineligible to host the competition the following year. The rules also add that countries could also be disqualified if \u201ca sensitive geopolitical situation\u201d affects the \u201csecurity, safety or stability of their state or immediate region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The new rules state that \u201cwhere deemed necessary\u201d the EBU, which organises Eurovision, \u201cmay commission an independent security assessment of the winner\u2019s region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It added: \u201cFollowing that assessment, the EBU will consult the Reference Group to determine whether the winning member is able to safely host the Contest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If the winning country is found to be unsafe to host, the EBU will then select an alternative broadcaster to run the show. They added that they \u201cwill not be required to stage the event on behalf of another member\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Back in 2023, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/uk-asked-to-host-eurovision-2023-after-ukraine-is-ruled-out-of-contest-3249897\">the BBC worked in conjunction with its Ukrainian broadcast counterpart to reflect the country\u2019s heritage in the contest when they held the competition in Liverpool after Ukraine\u2019s win the previous year.<\/a> Due to the ongoing conflict, it was deemed too unsafe to hold the competition in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>It comes after this year\u2019s contest once again proved fraught with controversy, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/four-countries-announce-eurovision-2026-boycott-after-israel-allowed-compete-3916030\">several countries \u2013 Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and Spain \u2013 boycotting the event<\/a> in protest at Israel\u2019s inclusion, despite the nation\u2019s military action in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the competition earlier this year, Amnesty International called for Israel to be suspended from the contest, and criticised the EBU for not suspending the country like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/russia-no-longer-allowed-to-compete-in-eurovision-2022-following-ukraine-invasion-3169684\">it did with Russia in 2022 due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe failure of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to suspend Israel from Eurovision, as it did with Russia, is an act of cowardice and an illustration of blatant double standards when it comes to Israel\u201d, said Amnesty International\u2019s Secretary General, Agn\u00e8s Callamard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInstead of sending a clear message that there is a cost for Israel\u2019s atrocity crimes against the Palestinian people, the EBU has given Israel this international stage even as it continues to commit genocide in Gaza, unlawful occupation, and apartheid. The EBU is betraying the values of the Eurovision Song Contest, which include freedom from intolerance, hate speech, and discrimination\u201d.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"DARA - Bangaranga (LIVE) | Bulgaria \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddec | Grand Final | Winner of Eurovision 2026\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EltgrumKJfk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Israel has repeatedly rejected accusations of waging genocide, and denies committing any war crimes, maintaining that its operations are lawful acts of\u00a0self-defence\u00a0following Hamas\u2019 attack on Israeli citizens at the Nova Music Festival on October 7\u00a02023, which killed over 1,100 people and saw 250 taken as hostages.<\/p>\n<p>Pressure to exclude Israel from the competition has also come from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/eurovision-2026-paul-weller-idles-massive-attack-paloma-faith-kneecap-primal-scream-sigur-ros-lead-1000-artists-calling-for-no-music-for-genocide-boycott-over-israel-3941533\">No Music For Genocide, who issued an open letter signed by over 1,100 cultural workers and artists, calling for fans to boycott this year\u2019s Eurovision<\/a> unless Israel is banned from participating.<\/p>\n<p>The open letter was first shared on April 21, and featured signatures from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/brian-eno\">Brian Eno<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/massive-attack\">Massive Attack<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/paloma-faith\">Paloma Faith<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/paul-weller\">Paul Weller<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/kneecap\">Kneecap<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/hot-chip\">Hot Chip<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/of-monsters-and-men\">Of Monsters and Men<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/idles\">IDLES<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/primal-scream\">Primal Scream<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/sigur-ros\">Sigur R\u00f3s<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/young-fathers\">Young Fathers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/mogwai\">Mogwai<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/black-country-new-road\">Black Country New Road<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/erika-de-casier\">Erika de Casier<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/nadine-shah\">Nadine Shah<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/dry-cleaning\">Dry Cleaning<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/olafur-arnalds\">\u00d3lafur Arnalds<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/david-holmes\">David Holmes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/nemahsis\">Nemahsis<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/macklemore\">Macklemore<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/roger-waters\">Roger Waters<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/peter-gabriel\">Peter Gabriel<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/vacations\">Vacations<\/a>, Smerz, a number of former Eurovision finalists, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, other rule changes to Eurovision will see the minimum age to participate increased from 16 to 18. It has also clarified rules on backing tracks, with Eurovision stating that any track must not \u201cunduly assist\u201d the singer(s) on stage.<\/p>\n<p>They added: \u201cThe clarification is intended to protect the integrity of each performance and to ensure the audience always hears the lead vocals on each song performed live.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Commenting on the updated rules, Eurovision director Martin Green said: \u201cThese changes are about giving everyone involved greater clarity, protecting artists and ensuring the Contest continues to provide a safe and welcoming environment, while preserving the spirit and integrity that make the Eurovision Song Contest so special.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Next year\u2019s contest will be held in Bulgaria, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/bulgarias-dara-wins-2026-eurovision-song-contest-3945745\">after their entry Dara won the 2026 edition with her \u2018Bangaranga.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Last month, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/canada-to-make-eurovision-debut-in-2027-3954720\">it was announced that Canada would enter the competition for the first time.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n  fbq('consent', 'revoke');\n  fbq('init', '370979561341328');\n  fbq('track', 'PageView');\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Eurovision Song Contest has today (August 12) announced rule changes for countries at war during the competition. Organisers have announced that if a country involved in an armed conflict wins the competition, it will be ineligible to host the competition the following year. The rules also add that countries could also be disqualified if&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Eurovision-Photo-by-Jens-Buttner_picture-alliance-via-Getty-Images.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41982\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}