Israel will continue in Eurovision and Spain withdraws from the festival
RTVE has officially announced his resignation.
BarcelonaAfter months of debate, the European Broadcasting Union has decided that Israel will participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, according to Reuters. This decision comes after a majority vote on the country's continued participation was held this afternoon in Geneva. Among the countries leading the calls for a boycott of Israel was Spain, which has announced its withdrawal from the 2026 contest and its cancellation of the broadcast – a controversial decision given that it is one of the most-watched annual events. RTVE, the Spanish public broadcaster, explained via its social media channels that it announced its withdrawal following the vote to approve the new contest rules. The next Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, Austria, on May 16, and, as Spain has specified, RTVE will not broadcast the final or the two semi-finals, which will take place on May 12 and 14. The same statement also explains that RTVE, along with seven other countries, requested a secret written vote on Israel's continued membership, but the EBU presidency denied the request.
"We would like to express our serious doubts about the participation of Israeli broadcaster KAN in Eurovision 2026. The situation in Gaza, despite the ceasefire and the approval of the peace process, and Israel's use of the contest for political purposes, make it increasingly difficult to maintain Eurovision as a neutral cultural event," Morales said. In his X profile, the president of RTVE, José Pablo López, expressed his disappointment with the EBU. "What happened today at the EBU assembly confirms that Eurovision is not a song contest but a festival dominated by geopolitical interests and fractured.
It is not the only country that will boycott the next edition of the festival. The Netherlands has also expressed its opposition. The broadcaster considers Israel's continued involvement in the event incompatible with the values the network upholds, such as respect for human rights. The Irish public broadcaster has also joined the boycott, and Slovenian and Icelandic broadcasters are expected to follow suit."
