The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has reportedly loosened restrictions on audience members displaying flags during the 2025 Eurovision event scheduled to take place in Basel, Switzerland on May 13th.
The Danish Broadcasting Corporation obtained this year’s official policy regarding national and political emblems. The new EBU policy states that “political messages should be avoided,” while noting host country Switzerland’s “high value on freedom of expression.”
This means spectators will apparently be allowed to bring all flags into the St. Jakobshalle arena, including that of Palestine, which was notably banned from the 2024 contest.
Only items displaying symbols violating Swiss law, such as featuring discriminatory and racist content or promoting known terrorism organisations, will be prohibited.
However, performers will face harsher restrictions. Under the new policy, artists are reportedly only permitted to use the official flag of the country they are representing during Eurovision-related events, which will be provided to them by Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR.
Artists are also banned from displaying “symbols of solidarity,” meaning performers will not be allowed to hold flags or banners representing Ukraine or Palestine. EBU says this is to retain the “political neutrality” of Eurovision after last year’s winner Nemo displayed the non-binary flag on stage and Irish contestant Bambi Thug wore acrylic nails painted to represent the colours of Palestine.
