RTVE, the Spanish national broadcaster, has withdrawn from the forthcoming 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
This will be the very first time since its debut in 1961, that Spain will not compete at the Eurovision Song Contest, the country has competed at the Eurovision Song Contest religiously every year since its debut. It should also be noted that it is very first time that a BIG 5 country withdraws from the contest since the implementation of the BIG 5.
Spain thus joins Slovenia, Ireland and the Netherlands in the list of countries who have pulled out of the contest due to Israel’s participation at the competition in Vienna next year.
Following the results from today’s EBU’s General Assembly regarding the participation of Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 the Spanish national broadcaster has dediced to withdraw from the contest next year.
RTVE will not compete at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 neither broadcast the three live shows from Vienna.
Spain at Eurovision
Spain debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 and has won the event twice. In 2025 Melody represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel with her entry ‘Esa Diva‘.
