Eurovision Song Contest organisers have changed the rules so that a country involved in armed conflict can no longer host the competition, even if it wins.
Announced on Wednesday, the new rules disqualify any winning broadcaster from hosting if its country is engaged in armed conflict or facing a "sensitive geopolitical situation" that could affect the safety of the event. A victory will therefore no longer automatically guarantee hosting rights under the previous arrangement, where the winner typically hosted the following year's contest.
The organisers did not name any country. However, the change could have particular significance for Israel, which has been at war in Gaza since 2023 and came second in both 2025 and 2026. Ukraine has also been mentioned as a recent high-flyer.
In addition, the minimum age for competitors has been raised.