Winning the Eurovision Song Contest usually comes with more than a trophy.
The winning country also gets the chance to host the competition the following year. But that could now change.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has introduced new rules that could stop the winning country from hosting if its broadcaster does not meet Eurovision’s rules.
A country could lose the hosting rights if it cannot promise a safe event, tries to unfairly affect the results or goes against Eurovision’s non-political nature.
The new rules also cover wars and other political problems.
If a war, serious political situation or another major event affects the safety and stability of the area around the winning country, it will normally not be allowed to host the next Eurovision.
However, the EBU can make an exception if it believes the contest can still be held safely.
Not being allowed to host would not change the winning country’s result or stop it from taking part in Eurovision. Instead, another broadcaster would be chosen to host the event.
The rule change comes as Canada prepares to take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest after CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the EBU.
Marie-Philippe Bouchard, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, said they are ‘so excited’ to showcase Canadian talent ‘on one of the most storied music stages in the world’.
Meanwhile, Hungary could also return to Eurovision after a seven-year break. The country has previously been linked to claims that its government found the contest ‘too gay’.
With the new rules, winning Eurovision may no longer guarantee the winner gets to host the party.
2026-08-13 15:35:00
