Eurovision Song Contest changes rules for countries at war

Organisers say countries engaged in armed conflict will be automatically disqualified from hosting.

The event’s organizers would not say whether that included Israel, but its participation has been a matter of contention during the war in Gaza.

The organizers of the music competition said that under the new rules, 'the winning broadcaster 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.'

The organizers of the music competition said that under the new rules, 'the winning broadcaster 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.'

New rule comes amid controversy over Israel's continued participation in Europe's glitzy song contest.

THE organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have said they have changed the rules for 2027

Updates rules from the Eurovision Song Contest mean a winning country could be blocked from hosting the following year. The new rules from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) state that winning countries will not be able to host if the country is involved in “an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation”, or