Almost two weeks before the start of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, the contest organizers introduced several new rules and restrictions for participants who touch flags.
This was reported by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
In particular, the main innovation will be introduced in Basel, Switzerland, during Eurovision, with a strict restriction for the contestants: only the country’s official flag represented by the delegation will be allowed to be used on stage and at official events.
The organizer, the Swiss television company SRG SSR, will provide the flags.
Other flags, including rainbow (LGBT+), non-binary, or flags of other countries, will be prohibited. Political gestures, such as unfurling the Ukrainian flag during the 2022 pageant as a sign of solidarity after a full-scale war, are also not allowed.
Violations of these rules are subject to sanctions, including possible disqualification. The organizers have stated their desire to maintain a “balance between self-expression and the neutrality of the event.”
At the same time, there are more lenient requirements for spectators. Visitors can bring flags except those prohibited by Swiss law (e.g., racist, discriminatory, or extremist symbols).
