Madrid has officially announced its readiness to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if the delegation from Israel participates in it. Spain has become the first country from the “Big Five” (key organizers and sponsors of the contest) to take such a decisive step.
The decision was made today, September 16, by a vote of the board of directors of the Spanish national broadcaster RTVE. The initiative came from the company’s president, José Pablo López.
The statement emphasizes that the refusal to participate will take effect if the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) does not exclude Israel from the list of contestants for 2026.
Spain’s position adds to the list of countries that have expressed protest. Previously, broadcasters from Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Slovenia had already announced the possibility of a similar boycott, which puts serious pressure on the organizers of the contest.
