SPAIN will not be participating in Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to compete, the state broadcaster announced.
RTVE said in a statement on Tuesday that its board of directors had agreed by an “absolute majority” to withdraw from the song contest should Israel compete whilst it continues to enact genocide upon Gaza.
Spain joins Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in its boycott of the 2026 competition in Vienna.
The statement reads: “The RTVE Board of Directors agreed during its meeting on this Tuesday, September 16, that Spain will withdraw from the Eurovision Festival if Israel is part of the event. The measure was taken at the proposal of the RTVE president, José Pablo López, with an absolute majority of the Corporation's governing body.”
The final voting breakdown consisted of four votes against, 10 in favour and one abstention.
The broadcaster had previously raised concerns to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) about Israel’s participation in the contest.
This decision makes Spain the first of the Big Five participating countries – which includes Germany, the UK, France and Italy – to withdraw pending the status of Israel’s involvement.
It follows official announcements from Irish and Dutch broadcasters who also said their respective countries would not participate in next year’s competition.
A statement from RTE, Ireland’s official state broadcaster, read: “It is RTE’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU’s decision is made.
“RTE feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza.
“RTE is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, and the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”
The Scottish Culture Secretary, Angus Robertson, also joined calls for the BBC and UK to withdraw from Eurovision 2026.
He said on Saturday: “The BBC should join the growing number of broadcasters to boycott Eurovision if Israel is involved. The UK should not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest as genocide continues in Gaza.”
It comes as the UN published a report into Israel’s activity in the occupied Palestinian territories, confirming that Israel has met all but one requirement for a conflict to be considered genocide.
The final decision on Israel’s participation will be made in December, with Eurovision director Martin Green saying: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“We are still consulting with all EBU members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Eurovision Song Contest.
“Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year’s event in Vienna.
“It is up to each member to decide if they want to take part in the contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.”
