The Eurovision Song Contest is known for its dazzling performances, outrageous fashion, and unifying message—but it hasn’t been without drama. Over the decades, this global spectacle has been rocked by political tensions, shocking onstage incidents, and voting scandals that stirred headlines far beyond the music world. From secret revolutionary signals to international disputes aired live, these moments prove Eurovision is as much about controversy as it is about catchy choruses. Here are the top 10 biggest Eurovision controversies in contest history that left audiences stunned and the legacy of the contest forever changed.
10. Dana International’s Transgender Victory
In 1998, Dana International made history as the first transgender artist to win the Eurovision Song Contest, representing Israel with her hit song Diva. Her victory sparked global headlines and ignited intense debate, especially among conservative and religious groups in Israel who opposed her participation. Despite the backlash, Dana’s powerful performance and confident presence broke barriers and became a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ representation in music. Her win not only challenged traditional norms but also solidified Eurovision’s reputation as a platform for diversity and inclusion.
9. Stage Invasion During the UK Performance
One of the biggest Eurovision controversies in contest history occurred in 2018 when a protester stormed the stage during the United Kingdom’s performance. As singer SuRie performed her song Storm, a man rushed onstage, grabbed the microphone, and shouted a political message before being tackled by security. The shocking interruption was broadcast live to millions of viewers across Europe, raising serious questions about security measures at the event. Despite the disruption, SuRie declined the offer to perform again and was widely praised for her composure and professionalism.
8. PingPong Waving Syrian Flags
In 2000, Israeli band PingPong sparked outrage by waving Syrian flags during their Eurovision performance of Sameach in Stockholm. The move was seen as a political statement promoting peace between Israel and Syria, two nations officially at war at the time. While the band claimed their gesture was a call for unity, it triggered criticism from Israeli officials and viewers who felt it was inappropriate for the apolitical nature of the contest. The controversy led the Israeli Broadcasting Authority to distance itself from the group, refusing to promote or support their act during the competition.
7. Russia and Ukraine’s Contentious Interactions
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine repeatedly spilled onto the Eurovision stage, turning the contest into a political battleground. In 2016, Ukraine’s Jamala won with 1944, a haunting song referencing Stalin’s deportation of Crimean Tatars—widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The win infuriated Russian officials, who called for changes to Eurovision rules. In 2017, Ukraine banned Russian contestant Julia Samoylova from entering the country due to her past visit to Crimea, leading Russia to withdraw from the contest. These high-profile disputes culminated in Russia being excluded from Eurovision 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine, marking one of the most politically charged chapters in Eurovision history.
6. Armenia and Azerbaijan’s Ongoing Tensions
Longstanding political tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan have repeatedly flared during Eurovision, often overshadowing the music. In 2009, Armenia displayed a monument from Nagorno-Karabakh—a disputed region—during their performance, prompting Azerbaijan to lodge an official complaint. Later, reports surfaced that Azerbaijani authorities questioned citizens who voted for Armenia, raising human rights concerns. The animosity peaked in 2012 when Armenia withdrew from the contest hosted in Baku, citing security fears. These incidents have turned Eurovision into a stage for nationalist rivalry, illustrating how deeply political conflict can penetrate even a celebration of unity and culture.
5. Georgia’s Political Entry “We Don’t Wanna Put In”
In 2009, Georgia submitted the song We Don’t Wanna Put In for Eurovision—an unmistakable jab at Russian President Vladimir Putin, following the Russia-Georgia war the previous year. With its thinly veiled wordplay and defiant lyrics, the song immediately stirred controversy. The European Broadcasting Union requested that Georgia revise the lyrics to remove the political message, but the country refused and ultimately withdrew from the contest, which was hosted in Moscow. The bold move highlighted the tension between artistic expression and Eurovision’s rule against overtly political content.
4. Allegations of Vote Rigging for Spain
Spain’s victory at the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest remains one of the most debated outcomes in the contest’s history. Massiel’s upbeat entry La, La, La narrowly beat the UK’s Congratulations by Cliff Richard, but years later, allegations surfaced claiming the Franco regime manipulated the results through diplomatic lobbying and media deals to secure a win for national prestige. This scandal was just the tip of the iceberg in a contest frequently accused of bloc voting, political bias, and backroom deals. From neighborly alliances to strategic jury swaps, Eurovision’s voting system has faced ongoing criticism for favoring politics over performance—turning each year’s results into more than just a musical showdown.
3. Four-Way Tie and Voting System Change
The 1969 Eurovision Song Contest ended in chaos when four countries—Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and France—all tied for first place. With no tie-breaker rule in place, all four were declared joint winners, sparking outrage and confusion across Europe. Viewers and participants alike criticized the lack of a fair resolution, and several countries, including Norway, Sweden, and Finland, boycotted the following year’s contest in protest. The controversy forced Eurovision to overhaul its voting system, introducing tie-breaking rules to prevent future deadlocks. This moment became a key example of Eurovision winner controversies, where unclear rules and questionable scoring threatened the integrity of the competition.
2. Israel’s Debut Amidst Security Concerns
When Israel made its Eurovision debut in 1973, the contest faced an unprecedented level of security. Held in Luxembourg just months after the Munich Olympic massacre, where Israeli athletes were targeted, fears of a terrorist attack loomed large. For the first time in Eurovision history, armed guards, metal detectors, and intense surveillance surrounded the event. Some countries reportedly considered withdrawing due to safety concerns. Despite the tense atmosphere, Israel competed without incident, marking a turning point where geopolitics and global security visibly intersected with the contest’s famously festive stage.
1. Portugal’s “E Depois do Adeus”
Topping the list of the biggest Eurovision controversies in contest history is Portugal’s 1974 entry, E Depois do Adeus, which became the secret signal to launch the Carnation Revolution—a peaceful military coup that overthrew Portugal’s authoritarian regime. Though the song finished near the bottom of the scoreboard, its broadcast across Portuguese radio was pre-arranged as the first coded message to mobilize rebel forces. Eurovision unintentionally became the stage for a real-life political uprising, making this moment not just a musical footnote, but a turning point in European history where a pop ballad helped spark the fall of a dictatorship.
