Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest announced on Wednesday that countries currently involved in an armed conflict will be prohibited from hosting the competition. While the announcement did not name specific nations, the ruling follows recent events involving Israel, which has been at war in Gaza since 2023. Israel narrowly missed winning the competition in both 2025 and 2026, placing second on both occasions.
The 2026 contest in Vienna was marked by a boycott from five countries—Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland—who refused to participate alongside Israel due to the ongoing conflict triggered by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
Under the updated regulations, a winning broadcaster will be deemed ineligible to host 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. Martin Green, the director of the Eurovision Song Contest, stated that these changes were guided by feedback from member countries.
He added that the adjustments are intended to provide greater clarity, protect artists, and ensure the contest continues to provide a safe and welcoming environment while preserving the spirit and integrity of the event.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) noted that it may commission an independent security assessment before deciding whether a winning country is capable of hosting safely. If a winning country is found unable to host, the EBU will appoint another host nation, which will organize the concert in its own right and will not be required to stage the event on behalf of another member.
Historically, the contest has navigated similar challenges. Ukraine hosted in 2017 despite the conflict in the country's east between Ukrainian forces and Moscow-backed separatists. However, after Ukraine won the contest in 2022, it was unable to host the following year's edition due to Russia's full-scale invasion, leading the 2023 event to be held in Liverpool, Britain, on Ukraine's behalf.
In addition to the hosting restrictions, organizers announced that the minimum age for competitors has been raised from 16 to 18, effective on the day of their first rehearsal.
This measure continues the work already undertaken by the contest to strengthen safeguarding and protect younger artists from the pressures associated with competing. According to Eurovision records, the youngest person to win the contest was 13-year-old Sandra Kim from Belgium in 1986.
Alongside these policy shifts, the EBU and Bulgarian National Television (BNT) announced on Thursday that the Black Sea city of Burgas will host the 71st Eurovision Song Contest in 2027. The final of the world's biggest live televised music event is scheduled for May 15, 2027, with semi-finals taking place on May 11 and May 13.
This selection follows the victory of Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, known as Dara, who won this year's contest in Vienna with the song "Bangaranga."
Burgas, the second-largest city on the Bulgarian coast with a population of approximately 190,000, was chosen over the capital, Sofia, following a complex evaluation process that covered all EBU requirements, according to BNT general director Milena Milotinova.
The event will be staged at the Arena Burgas, a multifunctional venue with 5,500 seats that can accommodate up to 15,000 people. Burgas is an important commercial port and a gateway to seaside resorts, including the prime tourist destination of Sunny Beach.
Mayor Dimitar Nikolov described the selection as an honor and a privilege, expressing hope that the event will provide a boost for the tourism sector, which accounts for around 8 percent of GDP in one of the EU's poorest countries.
Since its launch in 1955, Eurovision has become a major pop platform, and the 2026 competition was watched by 131 million viewers, a decrease of 35 million from the year before following the five-nation boycott.
