MPs are to investigate the UK’s repeated failures at the Eurovision Song Contest following a string of poor results that have seen the nation finish in the bottom two in four of the last six competitions.
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee formally confirmed the inquiry on 18 September 2026. The move follows the most recent contest in May, where the UK entrant, ‘Look Mum No Computer’, finished in last place with just a single point.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the cross-party committee, described the UK’s recent record as “dismal”. While the second-place finish of Sam Ryder in 2022 was acknowledged as a successful exception, the committee noted that the UK has struggled significantly in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2026.
Scrutiny of the selection process
The investigation is part of a broader “State of Play” inquiry into various sectors of British culture. MPs intend to examine the mechanics of how the UK’s entries are chosen, specifically looking at the BBC’s internal selection process and its partnerships with private management companies.
The inquiry will seek to determine who holds the responsibility for selecting acts and the criteria used to make those decisions. It follows a public call for evidence by the committee, which received more than 150 suggestions on various cultural topics, with Eurovision emerging as a priority for a dedicated hearing.
In the coming months, the committee is expected to hold evidence sessions featuring BBC executives and music industry experts. These sessions will explore whether changes are needed to the selection model before the 2027 contest, which is scheduled to be held in Bulgaria following their victory earlier this year.
According to the UK Parliament website, the sessions will also look at the “State of Play” alongside the cultural impact of major televised events.
The inquiry may result in a formal report recommending specific changes to the BBC’s approach. Some critics have previously called for a return to a public-vote format, such as the former “Eurovision: You Decide” programme, though the committee has not yet indicated if this will be a primary recommendation.
Members of the public can view upcoming hearing dates and witness lists on the official Parliament website as they are scheduled. The BBC has not yet issued a formal response to the launch of the investigation.
