Eurovision bosses considering drastic rule change for voting in 2027 contest

| Live News reporter Published August 14, 2026 3:05pm Updated August 14, 2026 3:14pm Further changes are being implemented ahead of Eurovision 2027 (Picture: Reuters) Organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest are reportedly considering a major overhaul of the competition’s voting system. Ahead of the 2027 contest – which has been confirmed to take place in Burgas following Bulgarian singer Dara’s 2026 win – bosses are looking into possible changes. This includes ways to discourage voting campaigns that could influence the results. Consequently, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is said to have issued a letter to participating broadcasters, which includes the BBC, suggesting the vote is moved entirely online, with the public forced to select their top three acts. The suggested changes aim to dissuade the public from voting multiple times for one contestant, according to BBC News. As it stands, the current voting system allows fans to vote up to 10 times per payment method for their favourite act by phone, text, or online. Organisers want to discourage voting campaigns that could sway the results (Picture: AP Photo/Martin Meissner) In a new statement, a Eurovision spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that we have begun investigating a move to wholly online audience voting for the Eurovision Song Contest, and more details will be announced in the months ahead.’ In 2025, several broadcasters raised concerns about social media posts on Israeli government accounts encouraging people to vote multiple times and whether they may have influenced the outcome. The country was represented by Yuval Raphael with New Day Will Rise and triumphed in the public vote – placing second in the competition overall. This sparked concerns about the Eurovision rules, and the EBU responded earlier this year by reducing the maximum number of votes per payment method from 20 to 10. Israel also placed second in the public vote in 2024 and came fifth overall. Already this year, the EBU has announced new rules for the 2027 competition. Earlier this year, several countries boycotted and protested against Israel’s involvement (Picture: Reuters) The contest was won by Bulgarian singer Dara (Picture: Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images) This week, it was confirmed that the winning broadcaster will now ‘automatically be ineligible to host’ if their state is involved in an ‘armed conflict’ or ‘sensitive geopolitical situation’. It comes after the UK hosted the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, which was unable to host due to the Russian invasion. Leading up to the 2026 Vienna, Austria, competition, controversy was rife, with Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia refusing to participate unless Israel was excluded over the war in Gaza. Since Israel remained in the contest, those nations did not compete this year. The EBU said the recent rule changes were made following feedback from participating broadcasters, adding the new rules would provide greater clarity for artists and production staff. Other changes introduced by the organisation this week include stating that, from 2027, all artists must be at least 18 years old. Previously, representatives could be 16 on the day of their first rehearsal. A requirement for the lead singer or singers to perform the main melody live was also among the new rules. Deals of the Day Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you Arrow MORE: Wayne Rooney ‘should commentate Eurovision’ after ripping apart World Cup halftime show TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.