The organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have unveiled sweeping changes to its voting procedures following serious allegations of governmental interference by Israel. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the competition from its Geneva headquarters, confirmed on Friday that these reforms aim to enhance trust, transparency and audience engagement following months of controversy.
Political Storm Surrounds Contest
Israel has participated in Eurovision for over fifty years, achieving four victories during that period. However, its involvement has faced intense scrutiny in recent times, with growing demands for exclusion due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government actions in the Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza. The claims of Israeli governmental interference add another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding the competition.
In September, Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS stated it could no longer justify Israel's participation, citing human suffering in the Gaza war. Several other nations adopted similar positions. The Dutch broadcaster specifically alleged proven interference by the Israeli government during the most recent Eurovision edition, claiming the event was used as a political instrument, though they provided no detailed evidence.
New Voting Safeguards Implemented
The EBU has announced concrete measures that will take effect in next year's contest, scheduled for May in Vienna. The number of votes permitted per payment method will be reduced by half to just 10, significantly limiting potential manipulation.
In another major change, professional juries will return to the semifinals for the first time since 2022. This restoration creates an approximate 50-50 balance between audience votes and professional jury assessments, providing a more balanced scoring system.
Organisers are also implementing enhanced safeguards to detect and prevent suspicious or coordinated voting activity. Security systems designed to monitor, detect and prevent fraudulent patterns will be strengthened ahead of the 2026 competition.
Future Participation Hangs in Balance
Contest director Martin Green emphasised that the neutrality and integrity of Eurovision remain of paramount importance to the EBU, its members and global audiences. He stressed that the event must remain a neutral space and should not be instrumentalised for political purposes.
The EBU's general assembly meeting on 4th and 5th December will consider whether Israel can participate in the 2026 contest, which marks Eurovision's 70th anniversary. A vote on Israel's participation will only occur if member broadcasters determine the newly announced measures are insufficient to address their concerns.
Golan Yochpaz, CEO of Israeli public broadcaster Kan, had previously asserted there was no reason Israel shouldn't continue participating in what he described as a cultural event that must remain apolitical. Kan expressed confidence that the EBU would maintain the competition's professional and cultural character.
