The EBU has announced today that it will be implementing several major changes to the Eurovision Song Contest voting rules in order to strengthen trust and transparency.
Professional juries will be re-introduced in the semi-finals and will now consist of more members including a younger age group, the voting cap will be halved, enhanced safeguards will be implemetened to safeguard block and fraudelent voting.
The EBU will be introducing a number of changes to the Eurovision Song Contest voting rules:
- EBU unveils major overhaul of Eurovision Song Contest voting framework
- New measures for 2026 build on extensive Member consultation and reinforce trust in the world’s largest live music event
- Stronger limits on promotion to curb disproportionate third-party influence, including government-backed campaigns
- Voting cap halved for 2026, encouraging fans to spread support across more entries
- Professional juries return to Semi-Finals with expanded, more diverse panels including young jurors aged 18–25
- Enhanced technical safeguards to detect and block coordinated or fraudulent voting activity
In the wake of the latest developments and after the extensive consultation with the director generals from the competing broadcasters along with the recommendation and feedback from the Heads of Delegation the EBU has decided to implement a number of changes to the ESC voting rules in order to strengthen the transparency, trust and audience engagement.
Martin Green CBE (Eurovision Director) says:
We’ve listened and we’ve acted. The neutrality and integrity of the Eurovision Song Contest is of paramount importance to the EBU, its Members, and all our audiences. It is essential that the fairness of the Contest is always protected.
We are taking clear and decisive steps to ensure the contest remains a celebration of music and unity. The Contest should remain a neutral space and must not be instrumentalized”
Alongside the changes we are announcing today, we will also strengthen enforcement of our existing rules to prevent any misuse of the Contest for example through song lyrics or staging. And we will work closely with Members to ensure they fully understand and are also accountable for upholding the rules and values that define the Song Contest.
The EBU’s official press release reads:
1. Clearer Rules on Promotion
The Voting Instructions and Code of Conduct for the competition, which all participating broadcasters must abide by, are being strengthened to further protect the Contest from attempts to unfairly influence the vote.
The updated Voting Instructions support appropriate promotion of artists and their songs (which is very much part of the professional music industry), but “discourage disproportionate promotion campaigns…particularly when undertaken or supported by third parties, including governments or governmental agencies.”
Participating broadcasters and artists are not permitted to actively engage in, facilitate or contribute to promotional campaigns by third parties that could influence the voting outcome and, as outlined in the updated Code of Conduct, any attempts to unduly influence the results will lead to sanctions.
2. Fewer maximum votes
As part of the annual review of voting, changes have been made to the system to support audience participation.
For the 2026 Contest, the maximum number of votes per payment method (online, SMS and phone call) will be reduced from 20 to 10.
Fans will be actively encouraged to share their support across multiple entries.
3. 50/50 Voting Return for Semi-Finals and Juries Expanded
Professional juries of music experts will return to the Semi-Finals for the first time since 2022 – creating a roughly 50/50 split between jury and audience votes as in the Grand Final*.
This change is intended to encourage the optimum musical balance and diversity in songs that qualify for the Grand Final, ensuring that high-quality entries with broad artistic merit are recognized alongside those with popular appeal.
The number of jurors will increase from 5 to 7 and the range of professional backgrounds that jurors can be chosen from will be expanded to include music journalists and critics, music teachers, creative professionals such as choreographers and stage directors and experienced music industry figures. To reflect the appeal of the Contest with younger audiences, each jury will now include at least two jurors aged 18 – 25.
All jurors will have to sign up to a formal declaration to confirm they will vote independently and impartially, will not co-ordinate with other jurors before the Contest, and be mindful of their social media use i.e. not sharing their preferences online before the Contest concludes.
4. Enhanced Technical Safeguards
Alongside these enhancements, the EBU will continue to work closely with its voting partner Once to expand the Contest’s advanced security systems, which detect and prevent fraudulent or coordinated voting activity, and strengthen monitoring of suspicious patterns to maintain trust in the results of the audience vote.
Martin Green CBE (Eurovision Song Contest Director) says:
These measures are designed to keep the focus where it belongs – on music, creativity and connection. While we are confident the 2025 Contest delivered a valid and robust result, these changes will help provide stronger safeguards and increase engagement so fans can be sure that every vote counts and every voice is heard. The Eurovision Song Contest must always remain a place where music takes centre stage – and where we continue to stand truly United by Music.
All these changes have been ratified by the ESC Reference Group. The competing EBU members will be asked to consider this special package of measures, safeguards and changes and decide if these are sufficient and meet their demands and concers without having to vote on participation at the forthcoming EBU Winter Assembly in Geneva.
The forhcoming EBU’s Winter Assembly is scheduled to be held on 4 and 5 December at the EBU’s Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Hereafter the EBU will be working with the members to confirm their participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
The official list of the Eurovision 2026 competing countries is expected to be released before Christmas.
