Eurovision organizers propose new rules to curb tactical voting

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is proposing significant rule changes for the Eurovision Song Contest to address geopolitical tensions and tactical voting. One major proposal involves changing the public voting system: instead of allowing viewers to vote up to ten times for a single artist via phone, SMS, or online, the EBU is considering a move to an exclusively online system where voters must select their top three favorite acts.

These changes follow controversies during the 2025 contest, where Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael finished second overall. Despite placing 15th with the professional juries, Raphael secured 297 points from the public vote. This result drew scrutiny after reports indicated that the Israeli government and officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had encouraged fans to cast multiple votes for the representative.

Additionally, the EBU has introduced new regulations regarding hosting duties. Moving forward, a winning country will be ineligible to host the competition if it is involved in an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any circumstances that materially affect the security or stability of the region. This rule aims to prevent the contest from becoming a platform for political maneuvering and ensures the safety of participants and spectators.