In an unprecedented move that strikes at the heart of Eurovision’s founding principles, 2024 champion Nemo has formally returned their trophy to contest organizers. The Swiss performer—who made history as the first non-binary artist to win the competition—declared the symbolic gesture reflects profound disagreement with the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) decision to maintain Israel’s participation amid ongoing military operations in Gaza.
Nemo’s statement, disseminated via Instagram, articulated that Israel’s continued involvement creates a ‘clear conflict’ with Eurovision’s professed values of ‘unity, inclusion and dignity.’ The artist specifically referenced a September report from the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry that characterized Israel’s actions as genocide, making the EBU’s position untenable in their view.
This protest occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions within the Eurovision community. Five nations—Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands—have already announced boycotts of the 2025 event in Vienna, which was intended to mark the contest’s 70th anniversary. The crisis represents the most significant organizational challenge in Eurovision history, further complicated by voting irregularities and allegations of governmental interference during the 2024 competition.
While Israel’s government has celebrated its inclusion as a ‘victory over critics’ and an ‘appreciated gesture of solidarity,’ Nemo emphasized their action targets institutional decisions rather than individual artists. ‘When entire countries withdraw, it should be clear that something is deeply wrong,’ they stated, adding that the contest must not be used to ‘soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing.’
The EBU has implemented some procedural reforms following this year’s controversies, including enhanced mental health support for participants—a measure partly inspired by Nemo’s own experiences of isolation during the 2024 contest. Despite the ongoing turmoil, the broadcasting union maintains that a ‘large majority’ of members support Israel’s continued participation and that Eurovision 2026 will proceed as planned.