Swiss singer Nemo, who won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, announced they will be returning their winner’s trophy in protest after organisers confirmed Israel will compete in the next contest (Eurovision 2026).
In an online statement, Nemo said that the decision to allow Israel to participate contradicts Eurovision’s stated values of unity, inclusion and dignity for all people.
They went on to state that they no longer feel the trophy “belongs on my shelf” and are sending it back to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) — the contest’s organiser.
The group won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in May 2024 with the song “The Code,” and was the first openly non-binary artist to win the contest.
The decision to let Israel compete in the 2026 Eurovision song contest has sparked controversy because of the ongoing war in Gaza and accusations that the contest is being used to “soften the image” of a country accused of genocide.
Several European countries have reacted to the inclusion of Israel. Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland have announced boycotts of the 2026 contest in protest.
The organisers responded to Nemo’s decision by expressing their sadness but respects their views and considers them a valued member of the Eurovision family.
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