The Eurovision Song Contest will have new voting rules, namely a reduction in the number of public votes and the return of judges in the semi-finalsannounced this Friday, November 21st, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
In a statement, the EBU said that “important updates were made to the voting framework for the Eurovision Song Contest, to reinforce trust, transparency and public involvement” in the event.
“The changes come following a broad consultation process with EBU members [entre os quais a RTP] after the 2025 Festival”, explains the organization.
For the 2026 edition, the maximum number of votes possible for each viewer (made online, by SMS or telephone call) is reduced from twenty to ten.
The festival’s semi-finals once again have professional juries – which hasn’t happened since 2022 – and in both the semi-finals and the final there is a split of “approximately 50/50 between the votes of the jury and the public”.
The juries now comprise seven members (previously there were five)must represent a “variety of professional experiences” linked to music and the arts and must sign a commitment to impartiality.
“Each jury will include at least two jurors between 18 and 25 years old”, says the UER.
In a statement, the UER also emphasizes that television stations and participating artists “are not authorized to actively participate, facilitate or contribute to third-party promotional campaigns that could influence the outcome of the vote”.
“Any attempt to unduly influence the results will be sanctioned”he says.
These measures are announced after several controversies arose over the voting system, particularly involving Israel.
Some European countries, including Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, Iceland and the Netherlands, have made it public in recent months that they are considering boycotting the 2026 edition, which will take place in Vienna, if Israel participates in the contest.
In the Netherlands, the public broadcasting association Avrotros accused Israel of having committed “proven interference during the last edition, getting involved in political manipulation of the event”in reference to the second position obtained by Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, through telephone voting, in this year’s edition of the competition.
Avrotros also justified the decision by citing the “serious violations of press freedom” committed by Israel in Gaza.
Belgium, Sweden and Finland revealed that they are also thinking about participating in the festival. The boycotts are due to Israel’s military attacks on the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip in the last two yearsclassified as genocide by an independent international commission of investigation of the United Nations.
On Tuesday, at a press conference, the general director of the Austrian public broadcasting station ORF, Roland Weissmann, said that “the time for diplomacy has come” so that the Eurovision Song Contest can be held in 2026.
Weissmann said he expects a commitment in December on Israel’s participation in Eurovision so that Austria can welcome “as many participants as possible.”
The European Broadcasting Union will make a decision at its winter ordinary general assembly, scheduled for December 4th and 5th.
The final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled for May 16th, preceded by two semi-finals on the 12th and 14th of that month.
The Eurovision Song Contest is organized by the EBU in cooperation with public operators from more than 35 countries, including RTP.
The contest has been held annually since 1956 and there have been countries excluded, such as Belarus, in 2021, after the re-election of President Aleksandr Lukashenko, and Russia, in 2022, after the invasion of Ukraine.
Israel was the first non-European country to participate, in 1973, and has won four times.
Austria won the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, which took place last May in Basel, Switzerland, with the theme Starmaniaplayed by JJ. The Portuguese representatives, NAPA, reached 21st place with the song Displaced.
Portugal participated for the first time in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964, having since missed five editions (in 1970, 2000, 2002, 2013 and 2016).
In 2017, Portugal won the competition for the first and only time with the song “Amar dos dos”, by Luísa Sobral, performed by Salvador Sobral.