Eurovision Shake-up: Juries Return And New Voting Rules For 2026

Eurovision fans, get fresh for immoderate large changes. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has revealed caller rules for nan 2026 title successful Vienna, and it looks for illustration nationalist votes won’t beryllium nan only deciding facet anymore.

Juries make a comeback

The biggest news? Professional juries are backmost successful nan semi-finals. That intends songs won’t conscionable trust connected nationalist votes to make it to nan Grand Final. Each state will person a seven-member jury, made up of euphony pros for illustration journalists, choreographers, and shape directors. Plus, astatine slightest 2 of them must beryllium aged 18–25, giving younger voices a say.

The goal, according to Eurovision head Martin Green, is simple: make nan title fairer and much balanced. “The neutrality and integrity of Eurovision is paramount,” Green said, “and this alteration ensures songs pinch creator merit aren’t overlooked.”

Public voting limits

Public voting is getting a limit too. From 2026, fans tin only formed 10 votes per costs method, down from 20. This is designed to extremity a azygous opus from dominating and encourages viewers to dispersed nan emotion crossed much acts.

Promotion and voting security

Rules connected promotion are besides getting tighter. Big campaigns — particularly those backed by governments aliases nationalist agencies — could look penalties if they effort to sway nan ballot unfairly. Behind nan scenes, nan EBU is besides stepping up information to drawback immoderate fishy voting patterns and make judge each ballot counts.

The reforms person been approved by Eurovision’s Reference Group and will beryllium reviewed aft nan 2026 contest. Broadcasters are expected to finalise participating countries earlier Christmas, truthful fans tin commencement speculating who will return nan shape successful Vienna.

This isn’t nan first clip Eurovision 2026 has been shaken up. In September, we reported that Spain’s broadcaster RTVE announced it would boycott nan title if Israel were allowed to compete, which divided scholar opinion

As nan title approaches its 70th edition, it’s clear Eurovision is superior astir keeping nan spotlight connected music, not manipulation. Whether you’re a die-hard instrumentality aliases a casual viewer, 1 point is certain: nan 2026 Eurovision is shaping up to beryllium 1 of nan astir headline-grabbing contests successful years.