The 2024 Eurovision winner returns trophy in a rare and symbolic act of protest that is now reshaping debate around the contest itself. Swiss artist Nemo Mettler has announced they are sending back the Eurovision trophy to the European Broadcasting Union, citing ethical concerns over Israel’s continued participation in the competition.
Nemo, who won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, with the song “The Code”, confirmed the decision in a public statement shared on Instagram. The glass microphone trophy will be returned to the EBU headquarters in Geneva.
“I will always be grateful for the Eurovision community and everything this experience taught me,” Nemo wrote. “But I no longer feel this trophy belongs on my shelf.”
Israel’s confirmed inclusion in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May, has triggered sustained backlash across Europe. Artists, broadcasters, and audiences have increasingly questioned whether the competition can still claim political neutrality.
At least five countries, Iceland, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, have formally withdrawn from the contest. Several performers have also stated they would refuse to participate even if selected through national finals.
For Nemo, the issue goes beyond personal protest.
The 2024 Eurovision winner returns trophy as a direct challenge to what Nemo described as a contradiction between the EBU’s stated principles and its actions. The artist referenced the EBU’s publicly declared values of unity, inclusion, and dignity, arguing that these ideals cannot coexist with Israel’s participation amid ongoing allegations of serious human rights violations.
Citing findings from a United Nations commission on Gaza, Nemo said the competition’s ethical framework is being undermined.
“When entire countries are withdrawing from the contest because of this contradiction, it should be obvious that something is deeply wrong,” they wrote. “It is not about individuals. It is about the institution.”
Nemo also rejected claims that Eurovision remains apolitical.
“If we do not live by the values we sing about, then even the most beautiful songs lose their meaning,” the artist added.
The European Broadcasting Union has not issued a public response regarding the returned trophy. Earlier this month, the EBU confirmed that Israel would be allowed to participate in the 2026 contest despite growing calls for exclusion from artists and activists across Europe.
Finland’s public broadcaster Yle has confirmed that Finland will take part in the contest. Finland’s Eurovision fan club has backed that decision, arguing that participation should not be politicised.
Nemo made history in 2024 as Eurovision’s first nonbinary winner, using they and them pronouns. Their winning entry, “The Code”, was praised for its genre-blending sound and its exploration of identity and self-expression.
By returning the trophy, Nemo becomes the first known Eurovision winner to renounce the award over political or ethical concerns related to the organisation of the contest itself. The gesture has already sparked renewed debate about Eurovision’s role, responsibilities, and credibility in an increasingly divided global climate.
