Israel could be barred from hosting the Eurovision Song Contest for the foreseeable future under new rules.
The new rules dictate that countries involved in “armed conflict” or any other “sensitive geopolitical situation” will not be permitted to host the competition.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event, stated that under the new rules, a country 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”.
Ahead of the 2026 competition, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands announced their intention to boycott, citing Israel’s military action in Gaza.
But in 2025, Germany and Italy told the EBU that they would boycott Eurovision, were Israel to be removed. Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke out, saying that he was “not in favour of boycotts”.
Israel has come in second place in the last two Eurovisions, with Yuval Raphael performing New Day Will Rise in Basel in 2025, and Noam Bettan singing Michelle in Vienna in 2026.
Following Israel’s success in the public televote in the 2025 edition, placing first overall among voters, the EBU announced a rule change to limit each phone number to only 10 votes, down from 20.
After this change, Israel received only 220 televote points in 2026, placing third overall.
In May 2026, Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, was formally warned by the EBU after sharing videos of 2026 entrant Noam Bettan instructing viewers to spend all 10 of their votes on Israel.
The host city for Eurovision 2027 was also announced by the EBU and by Bulgarian National Television, confirming the contest will take place in the Arena Burgas, in Burgas, a Bulgarian city on the Black Sea.
The Arena Burgas is Bulgaria’s newest sports and entertainment venue, opened in 2023.
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