Eurovision's 2024 winner Nemo (Credit: Getty Images)
Eurovision 2024 winner returns trophy in protest of 'Israel’s' participation
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• Swiss winner Nemo returns 2024 Eurovision trophy in protest over 'Israel’s' inclusion.
• 'Israel' cleared to compete in 2026 contest despite boycott threats from five countries.
The Swiss winner of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, Nemo, announced the return of the award after 'Israel' was confirmed to participate in the 2026 competition.
Nemo stated that 'Israel’s' participation conflicted with the contest’s stated values of “unity, inclusion, and dignity for all.”
“Even though immense gratitude exists for the community around this contest and everything this experience has taught as both a person and artist, today the trophy no longer belongs on my shelf,” Nemo wrote on Instagram. “Israel's continued participation, during what the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded to be a genocide, shows a clear conflict between those ideals and the decisions made by the EBU.”
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- Boycott threats and EBU decision -
Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands announced withdrawal from the contest due to 'Israel’s' actions in Gaza and concerns over vote manipulation for 'Israeli' candidates in previous editions.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization overseeing Eurovision, rejected calls for a secret ballot to exclude 'Israel', stating that a large majority of members agreed no further vote was necessary and that the 2026 contest will proceed with additional safeguards.
“A large majority of members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place,” the EBU said in a statement.
- Next contest -
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled for May 2026 in Vienna, following Austria’s JJ winning this year with Wasted Love. 'Israel' was represented this year by Yuav Raphael. Raphael finished second amid accusations of vote manipulation, prompting the EBU to strengthen rules and monitoring of the public voting process ahead of the next edition.
