This year’s Eurovision Song Contest, hosted in Switzerland, has introduced new rules banning artists from displaying Pride flags and other non-national symbols on stage. According to updated guidelines released by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and reported by NRK and DR, performers are restricted to showing only the official flag of their country during their acts, opening parade, and all associated events.
The EBU emphasized that “political messages must be avoided” on stage. This extends to symbols such as the rainbow flag, the Palestinian flag, or even solidarity gestures like those seen in previous years involving the Ukrainian flag.
Violations of this policy could result in participants facing “further consequences”, though the EBU has not specified the exact nature of these penalties.
Audience enjoys broader rights under Swiss law
While performers face tighter rules, the audience will benefit from more relaxed regulations. Spectators are permitted to bring any flag into the venue, including Pride flags and Palestinian flags, provided they comply with Swiss law.
The EBU clarified that Switzerland “places a high value on freedom of expression,” which shaped the updated audience guidelines. Flags that promote hate, violence, or represent banned terrorist organizations remain prohibited.
This distinction marks a significant change from last year’s contest in Sweden, where multiple fans had their Pride flags confiscated, and EU flags were similarly restricted.
Previous controversies influenced the 2025 policy update
The decision to revise the flag policy stems from a series of controversies in recent years. In 2022, Icelandic participants were seen displaying transgender flags alongside national flags, while in 2019, Iceland’s Hatari faced fines for displaying a Palestinian scarf during the points ceremony. Earlier, in 2016, an Armenian contestant received a reprimand for presenting a Nagorno-Karabakh flag.
Most notably, Nemo, last year’s winner from Switzerland, who uses they/them pronouns, smuggled a non-binary flag onto the stage during the opening parade — a move now explicitly forbidden under the new guidelines.
New regulations aim to balance expression and neutrality
The EBU stated that the updated rules seek to “strike a balance” between allowing personal expression for the audience and maintaining a “politically neutral” environment for the artists and show proceedings. As part of the enforcement, security personnel and organizers are authorized to confiscate non-compliant flags and remove individuals who breach the policy.
With over 160 million viewers worldwide, Eurovision continues to navigate the complex intersection of artistic freedom and political sensitivity — a balancing act that, this year, places greater emphasis on neutrality over symbolic gestures on its iconic stage.
