Spain Becomes First Big Five Country to Boycott Eurovision 2026 Over Israel’s Participation
Spain has announced it will withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel remains in the competition while “the massacre in Gaza” continues — a historic move that makes it the first Big Five country to take such a stance.
RTVE’s Board of Directors approved the proposal on Tuesday, put forward by its president José Pablo López, with a majority vote: ten in favour, four against (proposed by the conservative Popular Party), and one abstention from Junts’ representative.
If Israel’s participation is confirmed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), RTVE will not broadcast the contest either — marking Spain’s first-ever Eurovision withdrawal in its 64-year history.
A Historic Shift From a Big Five Power
In an official statement, RTVE confirmed that the decision would not affect the Benidorm Fest, the Spanish national selection, which will celebrate its fifth edition next year.
“Benidorm Fest has its own identity, is fully consolidated, and will go ahead as planned,” the statement said.
By taking this step, Spain becomes the first of the Big Five — alongside the UK, France, Italy, and Germany — to condition its participation on Israel’s exclusion. It’s also one of the few nations, along with the UK and Sweden, that had never missed a Eurovision edition until now.
EBU to Decide in December
The EBU Reference Group, meeting this week in Dubrovnik, acknowledged the “concerns” raised by several broadcasters, noting that the current circumstances “exceed its political neutrality mandate.”
A final decision on Israel’s participation will be announced in early December.
“We are assessing the possible impacts and consequences of either maintaining or excluding Israel,” the EBU said.
Meanwhile, Golan Yochpaz, head of Israel’s broadcaster KAN, rejected calls for withdrawal, insisting:
“There is no reason why Israel should not remain part of this cultural event, which must not become political.”
If the EBU keeps Israel in the contest, Spain will be forced to make good on its threat — and walk away from Eurovision for the first time ever.
Israel’s Controversial 2025 Performance
At Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Israel finished second, behind Austria’s JJ, with New Day Will Rise by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The entry won the public vote with 297 points — including 12 points from Spain — but was widely criticised after the EBU confirmed Israel had run state-sponsored ad campaigns encouraging viewers to vote for it.
Spain was among several countries calling for a debate on televoting ethics, arguing that wars and political conflictswere influencing results.
During the broadcast, RTVE aired a message declaring:
“When it comes to human rights, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine.”
According to Gaza authorities, nearly 65,000 people have been killed in Israeli operations since the 2023 attacks.
What Happens Now?
If Israel is expelled in December — as Russia was in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine — Spain is expected to rejoin the 2026 contest in Vienna.
But if not, RTVE’s boycott could encourage other Big Five broadcasters to follow, threatening the show’s financial model.
Either way, this is a seismic moment for Eurovision — one that could redefine its future as the contest nears its 70th anniversary.
Fuente: RTVE
