RTVE, the Spanish national broadcaster, has announced that RTVE’s Administrative Council will convene tomorrow to decide if it will withdraw from the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, if Israel will participate in the contest.
In the wake of the current geopolitical sceneario in the Middle East a number of European broadcasters have raised concerns regarding Israel’s participation in the competition. The Netherlands and Ireland have stated that if Israel will participate at Eurovision 2026 they will withdraw from the contest.
The participation of Iceland and Slovenia is also currently uncertain due to the given circumstances and their respective national broadcasters will make a final decision on their potential participation once the EBU’s makes a decision after the ongoing consultation.
Spain is most likely to join the list of broadcasters who are not if favour of Israel’s participation at the upcoming Eurovision edition.
The Administrative Council of RTVE which consists of 15 members will convene tomorrow Tuesday 16th September in order to decide if Spain will withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to participate in the contest.
If Spain decides to withdraw from competing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 due to Israel’s participation, it will be the first BIG 5 country to take this decision.
RTVE released the following statement via its official X account:
The Administrative Council of RTVE will meet this morning, September 16, at 9:30 a.m.
At the meeting, Spain’s withdrawal from Eurovision will be discussed if Israel participates in the festival. Spain is the first country of the Big Five to make this decision.
El Consejo de Administración de @rtve se reunirá este martes, 16 de septiembre, a las 9:30h
En la reunión, se debatirá la retirada de España de Eurovisión si Israel participa en el festival. España sería el primer país del Big Five en tomar esta decisión. pic.twitter.com/2nH2aFYpy8
— RTVE Comunicación y Participación (@RTVE_Com) September 15, 2025
The EBU has given broadcasters an extension until mid December to make their final decision on competing at ESC 2026 or withdraw their application without suffering a financial penalty. The initial date was set on 13 October 2025.
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 12, 14 and 16 May at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria.
Spain in Eurovison
Spain is one of the BIG 5 countries at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Italy, UK, France and Germany. Spain debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 has been competing religiously since, the country hasn’t ever missed out on the contest.
Spain has won the contest twice (1968, 1969) and hosted the contest once in Madrid (1969).
