Eurovision Winner Nemo Returns Trophy Over Israel Being Allowed To Compete In 2026

Last year’s winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, Swiss singer Nemo, is sending their winner’s trophy back to the competition’s headquarters in Geneva, with “gratitude and a clear message.”

Nemo – the first non-binary artist to win Eurovision – is sending their trophy back in protest over the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) recently voting to allow Israel to compete in the 2026 contest.

After the announcement earlier this month, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia withdrew from the event, citing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Overnight, Iceland also announced it would withdraw from next year’s competition.

Taking to social media, Nemo explained their decision to return their winner’s trophy.

“Last year I won Eurovision, and with it I was awarded the trophy. And even though I’m immensely grateful for the community around this contest and everything this experience has taught me both as a person and artist, today I no longer feel this trophy belongs on my shelf,” Nemo wrote.

“Eurovision says it stands for unity, inclusion, and dignity for all. Those values made this contest meaningful to me.

“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.”

Nemo continued, “This is not about individuals or artists. The contest was repeatedly used to soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing, all while the EBU insisted Eurovision is ‘non-political.’

“And when entire countries withdraw over this contradiction, it should be clear that something is deeply wrong.”

Discussing the return of their winner’s trophy, Nemo said, “That’s why I’ve decided that I’m sending my trophy back to the EBU headquarters in Geneva.

“With gratitude and with a clear message: Live what you claim.

“If the values we celebrate onstage aren't lived offstage, then even the most beautiful songs lose their meaning. I’m waiting for the moment those words and actions align.

“Until then, this trophy is yours. Nemo.”

Captioning the post, Nemo expressed gratitude to the Eurovision community and their fans, noting that they haven’t rejected what makes the contest special, but will return the award because they care about “the values Eurovision promises.”

“I will always be grateful to the Eurovision community, to the fans who voted, the artists I shared the stage with, and the experience that shaped me as a person and musician,” Nemo explained. “This decision comes from care for the values Eurovision promises, not from rejection of the people who make it special. Music still connects us. That belief hasn’t changed.”

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Earlier this month, the EBU argued that changes to the rules were “designed to reinforce trust, transparency and the neutrality of the event.”

In a statement, they added: “Ahead of the vote, there was a wide-ranging discussion where Members expressed a variety of views on participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Many Members also took the opportunity to stress the importance of protecting the independence of public service media and the freedom of the press to report, not least in conflict zones such as Gaza.”

The long-running song contest has long maintained political neutrality but has also taken positions on conflicts, including suspending Russia in 2022 over its invasion of Ukraine.

The EBU’s meeting reportedly aired concerns from some countries about “undue promotion methods” after Israel topped the public vote at the contest in May. Israel’s entry from October 7 survivor Yuval Raphel, with the ballad A New Day Will Rise, finished second overall after winning the public vote but was pegged back by a less emphatic jury result.

The EBU will reveal the final list of countries competing at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest before Christmas. Next year’s event will be held in Austria.

SBS, an associate member of the EBU and Australia’s official broadcaster of Eurovision, will air the contest again in 2026.

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