The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, was marked by significant controversy, centering largely around the Israeli delegation. Israel's representative, Eden Golan, finished fifth amidst a backdrop of protests and heightened security measures. According to Kan, Israel's public broadcaster, the delegation faced unprecedented animosity from other participants and delegations. Golan, who was advised by Israel’s national security agency Shin Bet to stay within her hotel due to death threats, received a mixed response of cheers and boos during her performance.
Eurovision organizers noted that some delegations did not respect the event's rules but did not specify which parties were involved. Irish act Bambie Thug, who finished in sixth place, publicly expressed dissatisfaction, particularly over Israel’s broadcaster allegedly inciting violence against them. Bambie, along with Italy's contestant Angelina Mango, described a tense atmosphere backstage.
The European Commission also criticized Eurovision organizers for banning the EU flag from the venue, calling the decision incoherent and detrimental to the event's unity message. Controversy further escalated with the disqualification of Dutch singer Joost Klein due to alleged intimidating behavior.
Despite these challenges, Switzerland's non-binary singer Nemo ultimately won the contest with the song "The Code." The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has pledged to review the events to ensure adherence to Eurovision's values in the future.