Nemo, the Swiss singer who won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, has announced they are returning their trophy in protest against Israel's inclusion in the 2026 edition. The 26-year-old, the first non-binary winner of the contest, said on Instagram that there was “a clear conflict” between Eurovision's ideals of “unity, inclusion and dignity for all” and the decision to allow Israel to compete.
The decision deepens the crisis surrounding the 2026 contest, which faces a boycott from five countries over Israel's war in Gaza. After the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) declined to expel Israel, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia announced they would boycott. Iceland joined on Wednesday, with its national broadcaster RÚV voting not to participate.
In their statement, Nemo said: “This is not about individuals or artists. The contest was repeatedly used to soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing, all while the EBU insisted Eurovision is ‘non-political’. And when entire countries withdraw over this contradiction, it should be clear that something is deeply wrong. That’s why I’ve decided that I’m sending my trophy back to the EBU headquarters in Geneva.”
Israeli broadcaster Kan welcomed the decision to keep Israel in the contest, rejecting allegations of political interference. Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, said Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”. Israel's embassy in Norway said it was “disappointed” by Iceland's move, calling it contrary to the contest's spirit.
With six months to go, 34 countries are slated to participate, though some have yet to confirm. The BBC, which selects the UK's representative, said it supports the EBU's decisions but has not clarified whether the UK will take part. An EBU spokesperson said: “We’re saddened that Nemo wishes to return their trophy which they deservedly won in 2024. We respect the deeply held views Nemo has expressed and they will always remain a valued part of the Eurovision family.”
