Spain reaffirms boycotting 2026 Eurovision if ‘Israel’ participates

• Spain's public broadcaster, RTVE, reiterated its decision to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if ‘Israel’ is allowed to compete, citing insufficient measures against political interference.
• RTVE justified the stance by referencing what it called ‘Israel's’ "genocide in Gaza" and following through on a position first announced in September 2025.

Spain's public broadcaster, RTVE, has reiterated its stance against participating in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if ‘Israel’ is allowed to compete, maintaining a position first announced in September.

RTVE President José Pablo López confirmed this during a Senate appearance on Thursday, emphasizing that proposed measures by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) are insufficient to address concerns over political interference and human rights issues.

López, addressing the parliamentary control commission, stated that RTVE's decision remains unchanged despite recent communications from EBU Director General Noel Curran.

"I thank Mr. Noel Curran for the measures he has sent us, but these are not sufficient nor do they guarantee that interference by a government like Israel's—or any other—in Eurovision cannot happen again," López said.

He justified the boycott by referencing what he described as ‘Israel's’ "genocide in Gaza," arguing that the contest cannot ignore such humanitarian crises.

The controversy stems from ‘Israel's’ ongoing assault on Gaza, which has drawn international condemnation.

Spain's government, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been vocal in criticizing ‘Israel’, with Sánchez previously calling for its exclusion from international events, drawing parallels to Russia's ban from Eurovision following the 2022 war with Ukraine.

López echoed this sentiment, noting that Eurovision has been used by governments for image-building purposes.

RTVE's board initially voted on September 16, 2025, to withdraw from the contest with a 10-4 majority (one abstention), making Spain the first of the "Big Five" contributors—alongside the UK, France, Germany, and Italy—to threaten a boycott.

This decision followed a UN commission report concluding that ‘Israel’ was committing genocide in Gaza, amplifying calls for exclusion.

Since then, other broadcasters have followed suit, including those from the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and now indications from Finland and others considering similar actions.

The EBU, which organizes the annual event, has faced mounting pressure but has not yet barred ‘Israel’.

In previous years, including the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland, ‘Israel’ participated amid protests, with its entrant facing boos and security threats.

The EBU will hold a key assembly general meeting scheduled for December 4, potentially deciding ‘Israel's’ fate.

Eurovision 2026 is set to take place in Vienna, Austria, following Austria's victory in 2025 with singer JJ's "Wasted Love."

JJ himself expressed disappointment over ‘Israel's’ participation in past contests.

Spain's absence would mark a significant blow, given its consistent participation since 1961 and its status as a major financial backer.