On May 11, 2024, during the Eurovision Song Contest final in Sweden, Eurovision organizers enforced a ban on the display of the European Union flag, a policy that sparked immediate controversy and criticism from EU officials. The European Union, while not a competitor, is symbolized by many of its member states participating in the event. The European Commission expressed its discontent, with spokesperson Eric Mamer and Vice President Margaritis Schinas denouncing the decision and initiating discussions with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the contest's organizing body.
The EBU, post-event, clarified that the policy to only allow flags of participating countries and LGBTQ+ rainbow flags was consistent with previous years, citing heightened geopolitical tensions for stricter enforcement in 2024. They promised to revisit the flag policy for future contests.
Amidst this flag controversy, the Eurovision 2024 also dealt with other disruptions, including the disqualification of Dutch participant Joost Klein following a police investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior.
Switzerland's entry, Nemo, won the contest with their song "The Code," receiving accolades for their performance and the song's blend of opera, pop, rap, and dance.