• Spain will withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates.
• Spain is the first "Big Five" country to take this stance, joining other nations like Ireland and Iceland.
• This decision is a protest against Israeli actions in Gaza amid ongoing conflict.
• The European Broadcasting Union is set to decide on Israel's participation in December 2025.
• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for a broader international ban on Israeli participation in sports.

Spain's national broadcaster RTVE has officially voted to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel remains a participant. This decision, made on September 16, is a protest against what is described as Israeli genocide in Gaza and follows similar pledges from the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland. RTVE announced that the decision was agreed upon with 10 votes in favor, four against, and one abstention, making Spain the first member of the "Big Five" to make such a declaration, according to Reuters, Newsweek, and AA.

This decision was framed as crucial amidst Israel's ongoing military actions, as the government faces increasing domestic and international pressure. Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun has previously indicated that Spain should ensure Israel's exclusion. He emphasized that Spain's stance aligns with the actions of other nations in condemning Israel's military offensive, thus prompting a need for a reassessment of Israel's role in international cultural events like Eurovision, according to Middle East Eye and The Local.

The upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, slated for May 2026 in Vienna, will see a vote in December by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) regarding Israel's status in the competition. If Israel is included, RTVE indicated it would have to follow through on its threat to withdraw for the first time in the history of the contest, a significant move considering Eurovision is one of the biggest cultural events globally, drawing millions of viewers each year. Additionally, tensions have escalated following pro-Palestinian protests that disrupted significant sporting events in Spain, leading politicians to draw parallels between the treatment of Israel and that of Russia in international contexts, according to Middle East Eye and The Local.

In recent statements, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reinforced the notion that if international sporting bodies ban Russia due to its actions in Ukraine, a similar standard should be applied to Israel in light of its military operations in Gaza. The call for a boycott highlights the dissatisfaction with perceived double standards in international relations and cultural participation, furthering the discussion about how global events like Eurovision are affected by geopolitical issues, as mentioned by Newsweek and The Local.