Nemo, Switzerland’s triumphant entry in last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, said he is returning his trophy in protest over Israel’s continued participation.
“I no longer feel like this trophy belongs on my shelf,” the vocalist said on Instagram yesterday, AFP reported yesterday.
The 26-year-old Swiss singer, who won with the song The Code, was the first openly non-binary musician to win Eurovision, according to The Independent.
“Even though I am immensely grateful for the community around this contest and everything this experience has taught me both as a person and artist, today I no longer feel this trophy belongs on my shelf.”
Eurovision, the world’s biggest live televised music event, is put on by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
EBU declined to expel Israel over its conduct of the war. Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia have already announced they would boycott the 70th edition of the song contest, to be held in Vienna in May next year.
They were joined yesterday by Iceland, where the board of the national broadcaster RÚV voted not to participate, according to The Guardian.
Nemo said: “This is not about individuals or artists. The contest was repeatedly used to soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing, all while the EBU insisted Eurovision is ‘non-political’.
“And when entire countries withdraw over this contradiction, it should be clear that something is deeply wrong,” he added.
“That’s why I’ve decided that I’m sending my trophy back to the EBU headquarters in Geneva.”
The decision deepens the crisis over next year’s Eurovision.
The Israeli broadcaster Kan has welcomed the decision to keep Israel in the contest, rejecting allegations of political interference. Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, has said Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”.
Also on December 10, Israel’s embassy in Norway, which also manages Israel’s relations with Iceland, said it was “disappointed” by RÚV’s move, which it said went “entirely against the spirit of the contest”.
On December 4, members of the EBU, world’s largest public service media alliance, decided no vote was needed on Israel’s inclusion in the glitzy annual extravaganza.
Widespread opposition to the two-year war in Gaza had led to mounting calls for Israel to be excluded, according to AFP.
“Eurovision says it stands for unity, for inclusion, and dignity for all people, and these are the values that make this contest so meaningful for me,” Nemo said.
“But Israel’s continued participation, during what the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded to be a genocide, shows there’s a clear conflict between those ideals and the decisions the EBU is making.
“When entire countries withdraw, it should be very clear that something is deeply wrong, he said.
“That’s why I decided that I’m sending this trophy back to the EBU headquarters in Geneva with gratitude and with a clear message: Live what you claim.
“If the values we celebrate onstage aren’t lived offstage, then even the most beautiful songs become meaningless,” Nemo added.
“I’m waiting for the moment those words and actions align. Until then, this trophy is yours.”
Some 37 countries took part in the 2025 edition in Basel, Switzerland, won by Austrian operatic singer JJ with Wasted Love.
Around 35 countries are ultimately expected to participate in Vienna.
