Eurovision Voting Overhaul Announced

The headquarters of the European Broadcasting Union in Geneva, Switzerland

Major changes to the voting of Eurovision have been announced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

In statements on both the EBU and Eurovision website, the EBU articulated these changes under four headings:

1. Clearer rules of promotion

2. Fewer maximum votes

3. 50/50 Voting Return for Semi-Finals and Juries Expanded

4. Enhanced Technical Safeguards

In terms of promotion rules the EBU states that "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." When defining third parties the EBU put in bold writing in their statement this included governments and government agencies.

Fewer maximum votes will be allowed per payment method (online, phone call and SMS), going down from 20 to 10. The EBU also states that viewers will be encouraged to vote for multiple countries, though does not explain how this will be implemented.

Perhaps the most significant change is the re-introduction of the juries in the semi-finals for the first time since 2022. Each country will have award a separate set of tele-vote and jury votes in the semi-final they are eligible to vote in, and in the Grand Final. The Rest of World public vote will remain in all shows.

The composition of the jurors will also change, increasing from five to seven. In an attempt to appeal to a younger audience two of the jurors must be aged between 18 to 25.

To enhance technical safeguards the EBU states it will expand its "advanced security systems, which detect and prevent fraudulent or coordinated voting activity."

The EBU notes that while these measures were approved by the contest's reference group, delegates at the EBU's upcoming General Assembly on December 4 and 5 will be asked if these changes "are sufficient to meet their concerns around participation without having a vote on the topic."

The statements end with the announcement that the full list of Eurovision 2026 participants will be revealed before Christmas.

The re-introduction of juries in particular could benefit Australia given in every Eurovision show Australia has competed in where there was 50/50 jury and tele-vote we have always received a higher jury score - the only exception being the first semi-final of 2019. Australia has failed to qualify for the Grand Final in the last two contests which were 100% tele-vote in the semi-final.

The EBU's full statement outlining these voting changes can be found at this link.

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