Spain's state broadcaster RTVE announced on Thursday that the country will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled to take place in Vienna, the capital of Austria, on May 16, 2026, reported Xinhua.
The decision follows the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) refusal to hold a separate vote on whether Israel should be allowed to compete amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
"This decision increases RTVE's distrust of the festival's organization and confirms the political pressure surrounding it," the Spanish broadcaster said.
"RTVE has announced Spain's withdrawal from the Eurovision Festival after the votes taken in the 95th General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) today in Geneva," read a statement posted on RTVE's official X account.
RTVE added that Spain will not broadcast the final or the two semi-finals scheduled for May 12 and 14.
RTVE President Jose Pablo Lopez said the events at the EBU Assembly "confirm that Eurovision is not a song contest, but a festival dominated by geopolitical interests – and that it is broken."
The Netherlands also announced on Thursday that it would not take part in the contest.
Earlier in May, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for Israel to be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest as long as it continues with its military campaign in Gaza.
In September, Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS said it will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is admitted, citing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Boycott
- Eurovision
- Israel
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
