BREAKING |
Nemo winning the Eurovision. Photo: Getty
Nemo, the winner of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, has announced they will be returning their trophy after Israel was permitted to compete in next year’s contest.
The 26-year-old Swiss singer, who won the competition with their song The Code, was the first openly non-binary musician to win Eurovision.
In a statement posted on Instagram, they wrote: “Last year I won Eurovision and with it I was awarded the trophy.
“And even though I’m 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.”
Nemo winning the Eurovision. Photo: Getty
News in 90 Seconds – 11 December 2025
The singer’s decision comes after Iceland earlier this week became the fifth country to boycott the 2026 contest over Israel’s participation because of its conduct of its war in Gaza, where the death toll has passed 70,000.
Iceland joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in saying that they will not be a part of next year’s competition, amid calls for Israel to be excluded over its military action in Gaza.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been among the leaders who have called it genocide.
More to follow…
