Eurovision bans warring nations from hosting contest

The Eurovision Song Contest has introduced significant rule changes, barring any warring nation from hosting the competition. This decision, announced Wednesday, also raises the minimum age for participating artists to 18, from the previous 16.

Under the updated regulations, a winning broadcaster will be ineligible to host if "armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other situation significantly affects the security or stability of its state or immediate region." The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) reserves the right to commission an independent security assessment of the winner's region. Following this evaluation, the EBU's executive committee will decide if the winning country can safely host the event. If a nation is deemed unable to host, the EBU will select an alternative country.

While the announcement does not name specific countries, it follows recent controversies. Israel's participation in the past two years, where they finished second, sparked protests. Five countries boycotted the Vienna edition to avoid participating alongside Israel, citing its conduct in the Gaza war. Previously, Ukraine hosted in 2017 despite ongoing conflict in its eastern regions. However, in 2023, Ukraine, the 2022 winner, could not host due to Russia's full-scale invasion, and the contest was held in Liverpool, UK, on Ukraine's behalf.