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Protocol

7 August 2026
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By Ina Kokinova

A month ago, the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final took place with a bang: Bulgaria’s “Bangaranga” snatched the first place from Israel in an edition marred by boycotts over its participation. This blog post explores how the song contest has succeeded in its mission to unite through music by bringing together people from all over the world and fostering the soft power of both EU and non-EU countries, but geopolitical tensions put in danger the reputation and even the future of the show.

What would you do if: a participant comes claiming they are a high ranking official but are not on the official list?
What would you do if: no vegetarian options are offered at a reception although you informed of a high-level official’s dietary restrictions?
What would you do if: your official wants to post on social media something about the summit that might offend the counterparts?

This analysis is a continuation of the author’s thesis The diplomatic protocol with Chinese characteristics: between the Confucian values and the foreign policy of great power, which examined the 2016 G20 meeting in Hangzhou as a case study.
The views expressed in this article are personal and are not the official position of culture Solutions as an organisation.

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