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Spain has joined Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia in announcing a boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, following a decision by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to allow Israel to compete.

 

The move marks one of the most serious ruptures within Eurovision in recent decades and comes after months of debate over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, alleged political influence in the contest and repeated calls for greater transparency.

 

The dispute intensified after several broadcasters urged the EBU to exclude Israel, citing the scale of civilian casualties in Gaza and concerns that the contest was being used for political purposes. The broadcasters also requested a secret ballot on the question of Israel’s participation.

 

Although the EBU introduced new safeguards intended to limit government influence on voting, a meeting this Thursday December 4 ended with a large majority of members agreeing that no further vote was required. The contest will therefore proceed as planned in Vienna in May 2026.

 

The responses was swift from the withdrawing countries. Ireland’s RTÉ said that taking part was “unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza”.

 

Television network RTVE, representing Spain, said that being denied a secret ballot had increased its “distrust of the festival’s organisation”. Spain was one of the first countries in Europe to recognise the State of Palestine back in May 2024, along with Ireland and Norway and have been quick to criticise Israel repeatedly over the Gaza conflict.

 

In Spain, the Secretary-General of RTVE told the EBU General Assembly before the bote that although RTVE recognised the new measures, they did not go far enough. He argued that the situation in Gaza, along with Israel’s alleged political use of Eurovision, made it increasingly difficult to preserve the contest as a neutral cultural event. He also repeated longstanding concerns about vote manipulation and what he described as a lack of sanctions in previous editions.

 

Israel, of course, welcomed the decision that allowed it to remain in Eurovision. President Isaac Herzog thanked those who supported the country, saying Israel deserved representation on every global stage.

 

RTVE will now not broadcast the event, including the two semifinals on May 12 and 14 and the final on May 16.

 

Last year, Spain placed near the bottom of the Eurovision league table,  while the public vote handed the maximum 12 points to Israel’s performance, who came second in the end, perhaps signalling that there is a divide between the government’s position on Israel and the feelings of ordinary Spaniards towards the country. 

 

 

The lead-up to the Eurovision Song Contest in Spain is marked by a weeks-long competition to choose the country’s entrant, held each year at Benidorm Fest.

 

The president of RTVE, José Pablo López, assured that leaving Eurovision will not affect the future of Benidorm Fest, which will continue to be held in 2026 despite the break with the EBU.

 

What’s more, the public corporation says it will strengthen its commitment to the music event, even if this year’s winner does not ultimately get to represent Spain in Europe.

 

Image: Oleksandr_Gusev