Eurovision 2026 Overhaul: Key Voting Reforms and Their Significance for the Contest

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has greenlit a substantial package of reforms set to take effect at the landmark 70th Eurovision Song Contest in 2026. These significant adjustments represent a direct response to the intense controversy that followed the Basel 2025 event, where the public vote results starkly diverged from the opinions rendered by the professional juries.

The Necessity for Overhaul

During the 2025 contest, Israeli representative Yuval Raphael, performing “New Day Will Rise,” garnered an impressive 297 points from the viewing public, yet received a mere 60 points from the assembled juries. This substantial disparity fueled renewed discussions surrounding several contentious issues within the competition’s structure.

The core concerns centered on what many perceived as 'vote farming,' the impact of heavily funded promotional campaigns, and the disproportionate influence wielded by dedicated fan bases. To restore a healthier equilibrium to the scoring system, the EBU is implementing new mechanisms designed to bolster fairness and balance across the board.

Transformations in the Voting Process

One of the most immediate changes involves placing a cap on the number of votes an individual can cast. Viewers currently have three avenues through which to register their support: SMS, telephone calls, and online voting platforms. The primary aim of this revision is to mitigate the power held by organized voting coordinators and large-scale promotional efforts.

Previously, a single individual was permitted to cast up to 20 votes for a single entry using the same method. Under the new rules, this maximum threshold has been halved to just 10 votes per person per voting method. This tightening of the reins is intended to ensure that the public vote is more reflective of genuine, widespread support rather than concentrated digital mobilization.

Furthermore, the professional juries are making a comeback in the Semi-Finals for the first time since 2022. The scoring in these preliminary rounds will now be split precisely 50/50 between the public televote and the jury assessment. This move is specifically designed to inject greater musical weight back into the early stages of the competition and counteract the imbalance seen in recent years.

Evolving Jury Composition

The structure of the jury panel itself is also undergoing refinement. The size of each national jury will increase from five members to seven. Crucially, the composition must now include a minimum of two members aged between 18 and 25 years old. Additionally, all jury members will be required to formally declare their independence from any conflicts of interest. This is a concerted effort to ensure the juries are not only musically expert but also socially representative of the broader demographic.

New Regulations for Participants and Broadcasters

The official regulations have been significantly tightened for participating artists and their associated broadcasters. Explicit prohibitions are now in place against external promotional activities that receive sponsorship from governmental bodies. Any party found in breach of these stringent new regulations faces severe sanctions, potentially escalating all the way to disqualification from the contest.

As stated by the Contest Director, Martin Österdahl, the fundamental principle guiding these changes is that “The Contest must remain a space for music and unity.” In tandem with these rule changes, the EBU is deploying enhanced technical systems, developed in partnership with the firm Once, to more effectively detect coordinated voting attacks and instances of fraudulent ballot casting.

Political Context and Future Outlook

Against a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions, broadcasters from nations including Spain and Ireland, among others, have publicly indicated the possibility of boycotting the 2026 contest scheduled to take place in Vienna. The EBU has assured stakeholders that the complete roster of participating nations will be officially confirmed before the close of 2025.

The grand final of this milestone 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna is currently scheduled for May 16, 2026.