As the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest approaches, the event that has long been a symbol of pan-European unity and musical celebration is facing one of its most significant crises in recent memory. Spain has become the first of the influential “Big Five” countries to announce a boycott of the contest should Israel be allowed to participate, a move that has sent shockwaves through the Eurovision community and cast a shadow of uncertainty over the event’s future.
The decision, confirmed on September 17, 2025, by Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE, followed a decisive vote by its Board of Directors—ten in favor, four against, and one abstention, according to The Express. This bold stance aligns Spain with Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, all of whom have declared similar intentions to withdraw from the 2026 contest if Israel remains on the roster. The contest is scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria, in May 2026, but with mounting withdrawals, the event’s viability is now in question.
Spain’s withdrawal carries particular weight. As one of the “Big Five”—a group that includes Italy, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—Spain is among the largest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the body that organizes Eurovision. These countries are given automatic entry to the finals each year, regardless of their previous performance, due to their substantial financial support. Should Spain follow through with its boycott, it would mark the first time the country and RTVE have missed the contest since their debut in 1961.
The timing of Spain’s announcement is no coincidence. On the same day, a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a charge Israel has categorically denied. This development has intensified scrutiny of Israel’s place in international cultural events. RTVE president José Pablo López did not mince words in a statement quoted by The Guardian: “As joint organisers of the Eurovision song contest, we share a collective responsibility. While Israel has regularly participated in the competition, the current events and the genocide currently taking place make it impossible for us to look the other way.”
López went further, challenging the notion of Eurovision as a purely apolitical event: “It is not accurate to claim that Eurovision is merely an apolitical music festival. We are all aware that the contest carries significant political implications. The Israeli government is equally aware of this fact and leverages the event on the international stage.”
Spain’s position has found support among other European broadcasters. Ireland’s RTÉ released a statement, as reported by The Express: “It is RTÉ’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.” The Irish broadcaster also voiced concerns beyond the contest itself, stating, “RTÉ is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”
Slovenia’s broadcaster RTVSLO and the Netherlands have echoed these sentiments, with both countries indicating they would withdraw under the same conditions. This growing coalition of dissenting nations is reminiscent of the wave of boycotts and bans that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led to Russia’s exclusion from Eurovision and other international competitions.
Indeed, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has drawn direct comparisons between the two situations. Back in May 2025, Sánchez argued, “Nobody was up in arms when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began three years ago and [Russia] had to leave international competitions and could not take part, as we have just seen, in Eurovision. Therefore Israel shouldn’t either, because what we cannot allow is double standards in culture.”
The pressure on the EBU is mounting. Earlier this year, over 70 former Eurovision contestants signed an open letter calling for Israel and its national broadcaster KAN to be banned from the 2025 contest, as reported by The Express. Even the winner of this year’s contest, JJ, has called for Israel’s exclusion in 2026. Despite these appeals, Israel participated in Eurovision 2025, a decision that has only intensified calls for a more decisive response from organizers.
The EBU, for its part, is walking a tightrope. The organization is expected to deliberate on Israel’s participation in December 2025, but some, like RTVE’s López, are urging for an earlier resolution: “Our hope is that a decision can be reached well before December, as the EBU must be aware of the serious damage being done to the Eurovision song contest, which will mark its 70th anniversary in 2026. Therefore, we hope this decision will be made earlier and that the EBU won’t be subjected to the stress of a last-minute vote in London in December. We believe that, for the good of the festival and the values it has championed since its inception, this matter must be resolved before the scheduled assembly.”
Meanwhile, the BBC—the UK’s Eurovision broadcaster—has acknowledged the concerns raised by Spain and others but maintains that “Eurovision has never been about politics.” Martin Green CBE, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, told NME: “The EBU is an association of public service broadcasters, not governments. We remain in constant contact with all participating broadcasters of the Eurovision Song Contest, including RTVE in Spain, and take their concerns seriously. Now that the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 has concluded we will have a broad discussion with all participating broadcasters, to reflect and obtain feedback on all aspects of this year’s event as part of our planning process for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest next year.”
In the background, unofficial proposals have surfaced, including suggestions that Israel could temporarily withdraw from the competition or participate under a neutral flag, according to Ynet Global. These ideas, while floated informally, reflect the desperation for a compromise that could save the contest from fragmentation.
The controversy has also highlighted the evolving role Eurovision plays in Europe’s cultural and political landscape. While the contest has long prided itself on being a celebration of diversity and unity, recent years have shown that it cannot remain insulated from the geopolitical realities of the continent. The ban on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine set a precedent that many now argue should be applied consistently.
With Austria preparing to host the 2026 contest in Vienna, the stakes could hardly be higher. The possibility of a Eurovision Song Contest without Spain—and potentially several other major participants—raises fundamental questions about the event’s future. Will the EBU find a solution that preserves the integrity and inclusiveness of Eurovision, or will the contest’s 70th anniversary be marked by division and absence?
For now, the world watches and waits, as the fate of one of Europe’s most beloved traditions hangs in the balance.
