US EditionEurovision tightens rules after Israel voting controversy
The European Broadcasting Union reduced public vote caps from 20 to 10 and reinstated professional juries to protect Eurovision's neutrality after concerns over Israel's voting influence.
- On Friday, the European Broadcasting Union announced rule changes revising voting and promotion rules to strengthen trust, transparency and audience engagement, approved by the Eurovision organisers' Reference Group.
- Israel's entry topped the public vote in May but placed second overall after jury scores; last year, reports said an Israeli government agency paid for adverts and urged votes, prompting boycott threats from AVROTROS and others.
- Organisers will restore professional juries to the semi-finals, increasing jury panels from five to seven and cutting public votes per payment method to 10, while updating the Code of Conduct to ban third-party campaigns and add technical safeguards.
- EBU members will decide at the General Assembly on Dec. 4-5 whether the measures are sufficient, then confirm participants for Vienna and publish the full list before Christmas.
- Martin Green said the steps aim to protect neutrality as Vienna hosts the 70th Eurovision with the Grand Final on May 16, 2026, and the EBU will monitor the 2026 contest.
109 Articles
109 Articles
The EBU changes the voting rules after Israel's second place at the ESC. Less votes for the audience and a comeback of the jury.
At the next Eurovision Song Contest, and following criticism at the previous contest, the voting procedure will be adjusted, and one of the measures is that viewers will now be able to cast a maximum of 10 votes.
Eurovision voting rules changed following audience votes winning Israel second place
Public broadcasters urged a review of Eurovision's voting process after Israel's Yuval Raphael placed second in 2025, and the competition's director announced Friday that votes will be cut from 20 to 10, stressing, 'governments don't participate in Eurovision, artists do'
Eurovision Song Contest Changes Public Voting Rules After Israel Scandal: ‘We’ve Listened and We’ve Acted’
Yuval Raphael from Israel with the title “New Day Will Rise” on stage at the second semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in the Arena St. Jakobshalle. Photo: Jens Büttner/dpa via Reuters Connect The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the Eurovision Song Contest, is enforcing new rules regarding its public voting ahead of the 2026 Eurovision in Vienna, Austria, following questions about Israel’s success in the competitio…
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