Spain abstains from participating in Eurovision in protest against Israel's involvement
Spain Withdraws from Eurovision 2026 Over Israel Participation
In a significant development for the Eurovision Song Contest, Spain has announced it will not take part in the 2026 edition if Israel is allowed to participate. This decision was made by the board of Spain's state broadcaster, RTVE, and follows similar actions by Slovenia, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
The announcement was made by José Pablo López, the president of RTVE, who explained the broadcaster's position in a statement. López asserted that the current events and the situation in Gaza make it impossible for RTVE to look the other way regarding Israel's actions. He also rejected the notion that the Eurovision contest is apolitical, emphasising that the contest carries significant political implications.
The decision was announced on Tuesday, according to a report in The Guardian. The EBU, the organisation responsible for the Eurovision Song Contest, initiated a consultation process in July with the 37 broadcasters who participated in last year's contest regarding Israel's participation in 2026.
The Israeli government is aware of the political implications of the Eurovision contest and leverages the event on the international stage. However, no other European countries have made similar announcements publicly so far.
The deadline for broadcasters to inform the EBU of their decision to participate has been extended to December. It remains to be seen whether more countries will follow Spain's lead in the coming months.
This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
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