Spain drops the mic: Historic Eurovision boycott if ‘Israel participates’

Spain shows a lot of personality and might just shake up Eurovision like never before.

RTVE, the Spanish public broadcaster, dropped a bombshell on Tuesday, September 16: it will skip the next edition of the famed song contest if Israel participates.

The decision is historic, as Spain is the first of the “Big Five” (the top financial contributors to Eurovision, alongside the UK, France, Germany and Italy) to threaten a boycott.

What’s going on?

The decision made by RTVE is motivated by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “The genocide unfolding does not allow us to look the other way,” said José Pablo López, president of the broadcaster.

He added that Eurovision, while an apolitical contest, is often used by governments for international image-building. So, basically, Spain wants to say that silence is not an option these days, and human rights must come first. To show they’re serious about this, RTVE has even threatened not to air the contest at all.

Spain is not alone in this move. Other countries, such as Slovenia, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Iceland, have also signalled they will withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participates.

Why Israel is controversial in Eurovision

Israel’s controversy is not just political. In fact, Israel’s Eurovision entries have sometimes sparked big debates.

In 2024, for instance, KAN, Israel’s public broadcaster, initially submitted a song referencing the Hamas attacks, but it was rejected for political content. In 2025, Israel’s televote performance came under scrutiny for reportedly using government-backed campaigns to influence votes. In short, Eurovision rules are supposed to keep politics out, but many people argue that Israel is often crossing the line.

Could Israel be kicked out?

Yes, but it’s complicated. Technically, there are two ways Israel might not participate. One is for Israel to withdraw, but the thing is the national broadcaster insists it won’t. The other is expulsion by Eurovision’s organiser (European Broadcasting Union). And here’s another but: EBU has always defended Israel’s participation.

Meanwhile, the EBU is gaining some time: it has extended the deadline for member broadcasters to confirm their participation until December.

Exclusions in Eurovision’s history

Exclusions are rare, but not unheard of. For example, Belarus was banned in 2021 for rule violations, and Russia was excluded in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.

These two decisions were made very quickly, after intense pressure from some national broadcasters.

A historic withdrawal?

Spain’s potential withdrawal would be a historic one. Alongside Germany, Italy, France, and the UK, Spain is part of the Big Five, and its representatives automatically qualify for the finals.

Another mark: Spain has competed in Eurovision since 1961 and has never ever skipped an edition. So a boycott would be a huge signal, plus a significant break in tradition.

Benidorm Fest is still going on

After this madness, fans now have a lot of questions. One is whether Spain will air the Benidorm Fest, the national contest used to select its Eurovision entries. The answer is yes, according to RTVE.

But above all, Spain’s decision makes a statement: Spain cares and is not prepared to turn a blind eye to what’s happening now in Gaza.

What do you think about this? Would Spain’s boycott be a courageous stand for human rights or a step too far for the world’s glitziest music contest? Leave your thoughts in the comments, we really want to know your opinion.

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