Eurovision Song Contest: Rules Set To Change After Israel’s Alleged Vote Dumping
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided to overhaul voting rules in response to the controversy over the voting system’s vulnerability to influence.
Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, performing at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.
By Quejaytee – Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=165751728
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided to overhaul voting rules in response to the controversy over the voting system’s vulnerability to influence.
The organisation will implement the changes ahead of the next contest, to be held in Vienna in mid-May 2026, with the aim of preserving the “neutrality and integrity” of the contest.
Under the new rules, viewers will be limited to a maximum of 10 votes per device, down from the previous limit of 20.
The professional jury will also return to the semi-finals, where jury and audience votes will once again carry equal weight at 50–50. The number of jury members will increase from five to seven, with more diverse professional backgrounds, and their contracts will explicitly require them to judge independently and impartially.
In addition, the EBU is tightening restrictions on outside interference. Its updated code of ethics explicitly bans “disproportionate promotional campaigns” by third parties — including governments — aimed at influencing the vote. Enhanced technical safeguards will also be introduced to detect and block coordinated or fraudulent voting patterns.
Israel’s participation has become a politically charged issue due to the war in Gaza. Several countries have threatened to boycott the 2026 contest unless the Jewish state is excluded.
