Nemo returns ESC trophy due to Israel

Nemo, Swiss winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, returns the winner's trophy in protest against Israel's participation in the competition. Nemo announced this on their personal Instagram profile: "Even though I am incredibly grateful to the community around the competition and for everything this experience has taught me as a person and artist, I no longer feel that this trophy has a place on my shelf."

Nemo triumphed with "The Code"

"Eurovision says it stands for unity, inclusion, and dignity for all," Nemo further writes: "However, Israel's participation [...] shows a clear conflict between these ideals and the decision of the EBU." In 2024, Nemo won the competition for Switzerland with "The Code" in Malmö, Sweden.

The decision of the 26-year-old, non-binary music act followed a day after Iceland announced it would boycott the competition in May 2026 at the Vienna Stadthalle as the fifth country due to Israel's admission. Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia had previously withdrawn from participation.

Debate about Israel's ESC participation

In the past two years, a debate about the country's participation in the ESC had already unfolded in light of the Gaza war following the Hamas attack on Israel. At the Malmö competition, there were large demonstrations against the country's admission and significant protest from parts of the audience against the artist in the hall. This continued at the ESC in Basel this year. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had now decided by majority at their general assembly last week to establish rules that would allow Israel to participate in the competition in Vienna as well.

(APA/Red)

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