Spain will not compete in Eurovision 2026
- aussievision
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Following a vote that allows Israel to compete in Eurovision 2026, Spain has withdrawn from the Contest.
A press release from the broadcaster RTVE said:
RTVE has announced Spain's withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest following the votes held today in Geneva at the 95th EBU General Assembly, which resulted in Israel remaining in the European music competition. The RTVE Board of Directors agreed last September that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participated.
The withdrawal from the Festival also means that RTVE will not broadcast the Eurovision 2026 final , which will be held in Vienna (Austria) on May 16, nor the previous semi-finals of the contest, which will take place on the 12th and 14th.
RTVE, along with seven other countries, has formally requested a secret ballot at the Assembly. The EBU presidency has denied RTVE's request for a specific vote on Israel's participation. This decision increases RTVE's distrust of the festival's organization and confirms the political pressure surrounding it.
In his address to the General Assembly prior to the vote, RTVE Secretary General Alfonso Morales explained that the Corporation “recognizes and values” the measures adopted by the EBU and the Reference Group to defend the core principles and values of the Eurovision Song Contest. “However, we consider these measures insufficient ,” he stated.
“We would like to express our serious doubts about the participation of Israeli broadcaster KAN in Eurovision 2026. The situation in Gaza, despite the ceasefire and the approval of the peace process, and Israel’s use of the contest for political purposes, make it increasingly difficult to maintain Eurovision as a neutral cultural event ,” he remarked.
The head of the Corporation also expressed concern about the manipulation of the vote in recent editions and the lack of sanctions in this regard. “We shouldn't accept double standards. Neutrality and transparency are a shared objective to guarantee a truthful result that respects the audience and the citizens,” he stated.
For this reason, RTVE has demanded a secret ballot for all votes scheduled today in the General Assembly, both planned and unplanned, in relation to the Eurovision Song Contest.
It has also requested a vote on the possible temporary suspension of KAN's participation for a minimum period of one year , with the option of a subsequent review at the end of this period, and has indicated that if it is not approved, RTVE will not be able to participate in this edition.
He emphasized that the leadership of the EBU and Eurovision “is causing one of the greatest internal tensions in the organization’s history .” “We firmly believe that this situation should never have been allowed to develop,” he stressed.
The Secretary General of RTVE added that the issue of sanctions against Israel for its continued non-compliance with the Eurovision Song Contest rules should have been addressed at an executive level and not by bringing the conflict to the Assembly, in order to avoid the tense situation between the different members.
Finally, Alfonso Morales pointed out that RTVE maintains this position "out of respect and deep concern for the complicated situation we find ourselves in and with the hope that we will be able to move forward and remain united in the EBU."
During the Assembly, and following speeches by representatives from various countries, the new measures adopted by the EBU and the Reference Group were voted on. The new rules passed with 738 votes in favor, 264 against, and 120 abstentions.