The EBU has approved major new Eurovision 2027 rules, including a security clause that could strip a country of hosting rights, potential voting changes, stricter live vocal rules, and a new minimum age of 18.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest have announced a series of dramatic amendments and changes to the official rules of the contest, which will take effect starting in the upcoming edition – Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria. The changes were adopted following lessons learned, an annual review, and comprehensive feedback received from participating national broadcasters after Vienna 2026. The most essential, significant, and prominent change in the new rules comes in the area of hosting the contest, providing a strict and explicit line from the EBU regarding security and regional stability.
Automatic Stripping of Hosting: The New Security Clause
According to the updated rule clause, a winning country will automatically lose the right to host the contest in its territory if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other scenario materially affects the security or stability of the country or its immediate region. Where deemed necessary, the EBU will appoint an independent inspection team to evaluate the security situation in the winning country’s region. After receiving the assessment, the EBU and the Reference Group will decide whether the country is capable of hosting the event safely.
The new security provisions could have particular significance for countries such as Israel and Ukraine, where ongoing security and geopolitical concerns could potentially affect future hosting arrangements.
Raising the Artists’ Age and Clarifying Live Vocal Rules
In addition to the dramatic hosting clause, the updated rules include two additional significant changes:
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Raising Artists’ Age: Starting from Eurovision 2027, all artists performing on stage must be at least 18 years old on the day of their first rehearsal, contrasting with the minimum threshold of age 16 that was customary until now. The EBU notes that the step is intended to strengthen protection mechanisms for young artists and reduce the heavy pressures accompanying participation in an event of such magnitude.
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Clarification of Audio and Live Vocal Rules: The rules clarify the issue of pre-recorded vocals in an unequivocal manner. The core principle remains unchanged: the lead singer(s) must perform the main melody live. Backing vocals and pre-recorded elements are permitted according to the rules, but the live vocal of the lead singer must be the only element performing the main melody, without the option of replacement or undue assistance from pre-recorded vocals.
Martin Green, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, stated:
“The Eurovision Song Contest is constantly evolving. Guided, as always, by feedback from our Members, we have clarified and strengthened several areas for 2027. These changes are about giving everyone involved greater clarity, protecting artists and ensuring the Contest continues to provide a safe and welcoming environment, while preserving the spirit and integrity that make the Eurovision Song Contest so special.”
EBU Considers Further Changes to Voting Rules
Alongside the structural and organizational changes in the rules, the EBU officially updated the semi-final voting regulations: while the qualification of the 10 countries to the final is primarily based on audience voting (National and Rest of the World), it was determined that subject to Reference Group approval, National Jury points may be re-integrated together with Audience Voting points in calculating semi-final results, based on a ratio set by the EBU.
Additionally, in cases where audience voting cannot be reliably established in a given country, National Jury results will serve as an alternative.
Meanwhile, the EBU clarifies that officials continue to thoroughly examine additional potential changes and updates to the overall scoring system for the next contest. However, as of right now, the voting system has not been officially changed for the Grand Final and continues in its current format.
As recalled, EuroMix recently reported that Eurovision 2027 might adopt a new voting system following internal discussions within the EBU, but as of now, these proposed changes have not been anchored in the newly published official rules.
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Neta Geffen is a respected journalist at Euromix, Israel’s leading news site for Eurovision coverage. Since 2010, Neta has been closely following the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing with him extensive experience, profound knowledge, and a broad understanding of the history, politics, and cultural influences that shape the event every year.
Neta publishes articles, analyses, and up-to-date reviews on all Eurovision developments, including musical trends, format changes, political influences, and audience reactions across Europe and Israel. Thanks to a deep connection to the contest’s history, Neta provides readers with wide-ranging context—from the impact of political events on results, to in-depth analyses of songs and languages within the competition. Neta specializes particularly in the Eurovision rock genre, Balkan ballads, and native language entries, with a special focus on Italian and Greek songs.
