By Yossi Lempkowicz
The Eurovision Song Contest announced last week that it had changed its rules. From now on, the winning country—which traditionally hosts the following year’s contest—will no longer be able to host the eventf it is at war.
“The contest’s rules now stipulate that the winning broadcaster will automatically be ineligible to host the contest if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other situation significantly affects the security or stability of its country or immediate region,” the organizers said in a statement.
Eurovision is an international co-production of public broadcasters that are members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)/ It is organized each year by the broadcaster from the country that won the previous edition. Since the EBU has non-European members, it includes countries located outside the continent.
‘’If it deems it necessary, the EBU may commission an independent security assessment of the winner’s region,” the organizers added.
Following this assessment, the EBU will consult with the Eurovision Executive Committee to determine whether the winning country “is able to host the contest safely.”
The statement does not target any specific country. But Israel came close to winning the song contest the past two years, ultimately finishing in second place in 2025 and 2026.
Five countries—Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland—had boycotted this year’s Vienna edition, refusing to participate in the musical event alongside Israel, because of the war in Gaza.
In the future, if a country is deemed unable to host Eurovision, the EBU will designate another host country. That country will organize the event “in its own name and will not be required to stage the event on behalf of another member.”
Ukraine hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv in 2017 even though a conflict had been ongoing in the eastern part of the country since 2014 with pro-Russian separatists backed by Moscow. However, in 2023, Ukraine—despite having won in 2022—was unable to host the contest due to the war triggered by Russia’s large-scale invasion. Eurovision was then held in Liverpool, United Kingdom, on behalf of Ukraine.
Next year, the city of Burgas, Bulgaria, city on the Black Sea, will host the 71st Eurovision Song Contest on May 11, 13, and 15, 2027. Bulgaria won the previous edition in Vienna last May.
Moroccanoil will not renew its sponsorship of the Eurovision Song Contest
In the meantime, EBU also announced that the Israeli-founded hair-care brand Moroccanoil will not renew its sponsorship of the Eurovision Song Contest after the end of its six-year contract.
“We have greatly appreciated the collaboration over the past few years and are grateful for their support of the song contest,” the EBU stated.
Moroccanoi was founded by Israeli brothers Mike and Erik Sabag, who began developing and selling argan-oil hair products in the Tel Aviv area in 2003. Carmen and Ofer Tal, of Montreal, later acquired North American distribution rights and purchased the company in 2008.
Moroccanoil became Eurovision’s presenting partner in 2021 after the song contest was held in Tel Aviv in 2019. Though the sponsorship deal was meant to expire in 2025, it was extended after the 2020 song contest was canceled due to COVID-19.