Spain says it will pull out of Eurovision if Israel stays in contest

Spain has confirmed that it will withdraw from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to participate.

It becomes the fifth country to take this stance, following similar statements from Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland. However, it is the first of the 'Big Five' countries - alongside the UK, France, Italy, and Germany – to do so.

These countries offer the largest financial contributions to Eurovision and are automatically qualified from the final round.

Contest organisers said that it has "taken note of the concerns expressed by several broadcasters" and is now assessing the “potential impacts and consequences of either decision”.

RTVE, the Spanish state broadcaster, announced the decision following a board vote on Tuesday. It was proposed by president Jose Pablo Lopez and garnered ten votes in favour, four against, and one abstention.

The decision follows a statement from Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun where he said Spain should boycott the event if Israel takes part due to its devastating military offensive in Gaza.

Last week, RTÉ announced that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is participating.

"RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza," the public broadcaster said in a statement.

"RTÉ is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza,” it added, “and the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”

In 2022, the EBU announced that Russia would no longer be allowed to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, following its invasion of Ukraine. Many commentators and activists have called for a similar ban on Israel's participation, due to its genocidal campaign in Gaza.

The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena – with the final set for May 16 and the semi-finals taking place on May 12 and 14.

More than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military action in Gaza. Today, the International Commission of Inquiry, which is set up by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate potential violations of international human rights law, has said that Israel has committed and continues to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.