RTVE, the Spanish national broadcaster, has released a statement on Spain’s Eurovision 2026 participation.
RTVE’s Administrative Council convened earlier today to decide on Spain’s Eurovision 2026 participation due to the current geopolitical scenario in the Middle East and Israel’s participation at the ESC.
RTVE’s Administrative Council has decided that Spain will withdraw from the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna if Israel competes in the contest. This decision will not affect Benidorm Fest 2026, which will carry on regardless of Spain’s participation at Eurovision 2026.
Thus Spain is first BIG 5 country to take this decision regarding ESC 2026.
A total of fifteen members from RTVE’s Administrative Council voted: 10 in favour, 4 against and 1 abstention. Thus Spain joins the Netherlands, Slovenia, Ireland and Iceland who have all made announcements on their withdrawals if Israel is not excluded from the competition.
RTVE has released the following statement:
The RTVE Board of Directors agreed during its meeting this Tuesday, September 16, that Spain will withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates in the competition.
The measure was taken at the proposal of RTVE President José Pablo López, by an absolute majority of the Corporation’s governing body, with 10 votes in favor, 4 against, and one abstention.
Spain is the first member country of the Big Five (composed of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain) to make this decision and joins other countries that have already announced their withdrawal from Eurovision if Israel is not excluded, following the announcements by Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands.
RTVE’s statement continues to read:
Last July, at the 94th EBU General Assembly, RTVE called for a serious and in-depth debate on Israel’s presence in the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Other countries also joined Spain’s request. The Corporation emphasized the need for the EBU to find a solution before the next General Assembly, which will be held in December.
The decision adopted today by the RTVE Board of Directors regarding Eurovision does not alter the plans for the Benidorm Fest, a festival with its own identity, fully established and celebrating its fifth edition next year.
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).
