Spain confirms Eurovision 2026 boycott if 'Israel' participates
3 Min Read
Spain’s decision marks a major stance from one of the contest’s top funders.
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Spain's Miki performs the song "La Venda" during rehearsals on the eve of the final of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, on May 17, 2019 (AFP)
Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has officially announced it will boycott the Eurovision 2026 Song Contest if "Israel" is allowed to take part, making Spain the first of the competition’s major contributors to commit to such a move.
Ireland and Slovenia also signaled they would withdraw from the contest if the Israeli occupation is allowed to participate, Anadolu reported a few days ago. The pressure comes amid mounting international outrage over "Israel’s" ongoing genocide in Gaza, where nearly 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 and where famine and humanitarian collapse continue to deepen.
RTVE makes historic threat to withdraw
RTVE, which is responsible for selecting Spain’s Eurovision entry, said in a statement that it would follow through on its threat to withdraw from the contest “for the first time in history” if "Israel" remains on the participant list.
Although other European countries have considered similar measures, Spain becomes the first among the so-called "big five" nations, which provide the most financial support to the contest, to make a definitive announcement.
Political pressure mounts over Israeli participation
The broadcaster’s decision came one day after Spain’s Culture Minister, Ernest Urtasun, publicly called for a boycott of the contest should "Israel" be allowed to participate, citing its military offensive in Gaza.
Urtasun’s statement intensifies the political pressure on European institutions, as more countries reassess their cultural and diplomatic ties in response to the war.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also weighed in earlier this year, stating in May that "Israel" should be excluded from Eurovision, just as Russia has been barred since the war in Ukraine began.
EBU to decide in December on eligibility
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the annual competition, is expected to decide on "Israel’s" participation during its General Assembly in December. The final decision will determine whether Israeli broadcaster KAN will be permitted to compete.
RTVE has made clear that if the EBU decides in favor of allowing KAN to participate, Spain will follow through with its commitment to withdraw from Eurovision 2026.
Spain’s leadership has taken a firm stance against "Israel’s" actions in Gaza. Sanchez has consistently pushed for greater accountability and alignment with international law, drawing comparisons between the war on Gaza and the war between Russia and Ukraine.
