Spain has become the first of Eurovision’s so-called “big” countries to announce that it will withdraw from next year’s competition if Israel is invited back.
Israel’s continued presence at Eurovision has become a contentious issue in recent years, as the ongoing conflict in Gaza has intensified.
As a result, many fans of the annual song contest have called for a boycott while Israel is still part of Eurovision, with the national broadcasters of Slovenia, Ireland and the Netherlands announcing that they will not compete in the event in 2026 if Israel does not change its approach to the competition.
After the vote on Tuesday, Spain’s RTVE announced it would follow suit, as reported by Sky News in the Area.
Earlier this month, Eurovision provided HuffPost UK with a statement from its director Martin Green that read: “We understand the concerns and deeply understand the views expressed about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. We continue to consult with all EBU members to gather views on how we manage participation and the geopolitical tensions surrounding the song contest.”
“Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm whether they want to participate in next year’s event in Vienna. It is up to each member to decide whether they want to participate in the competition and we would respect any decision on the scores.”
Meanwhile, Icelandic broadcaster Rúv has already said it is “possible” that if the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decides that Israel should remain part of Eurovision, they will also withdraw from next year’s event.
Spain is one of the five countries – alongside the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy – that contribute the most to Eurovision financially, and is therefore guaranteed a place in the live broadcast every year and does not have to compete in the previous stages of the contest.
Not every country’s national broadcaster is on the same page on this issue, however.
In July, it was widely reported that the national broadcasters for Germany and Italy (both also members of the “Big Five”) had threatened to pull out of Eurovision if Israel was not allowed to return to the event in 2026.
Germany’s Südwestrundfunk (SWR) later told HuffPost UK: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a major musical event that has brought people together across Europe and beyond for decades – diverse and respectful, regardless of origin, religion or belief.”
“The ESC is a music competition organised by the EBU broadcasters, not governments. The Israeli broadcaster Kan complies with the applicable rules and has been an integral part of the music competition for over 60 years. We endorse their participation and the core values of the ESC.
“We welcome the process initiated by EBU Director General Noel Curran. The former Senior TV Executive will engage in a structured, open dialogue with members over the coming months to explore different perspectives and identify courses of action. The aim must be a sound and sustainable solution in line with the EBU’s values.”
Huffpost UK also contacted Italian Rai at the time but did not receive a response.
Official discussions about Israel’s participation in Eurovision began with rival broadcasters in the summer and are due to resume before the end of this year.
Last week, the BBC had no comment when approached by HuffPost UK about whether it intended to withdraw or remain part of Eurovision depending on the upcoming decision on Israel.
The corporation’s CEO has since addressed the matter in a public statement.
