Spain has threatened to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel is allowed to perform amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun made the warning during an interview on La Hora de la 1 on TVE.
His comments align Spain with Slovenia’s national broadcaster, which has also threatened to withdraw.
‘I don’t think we can normalise Israel’s participation in international events as if nothing is happening,’ Urtasun said.
He argued that Eurovision is not merely about individual artists but a symbolic representation of participating nations.
‘Events like Eurovision or the Vuelta a España bring a certain representation of a country,’ he noted, referencing protests against the Israeli cycling team Israel-Premier Tech during the current edition of the Vuelta.
He continued: ‘In Eurovision’s case, it is not an individual artist who participates but someone who participates on behalf of that country’s citizens.
‘If Israel takes part in 2026 and we fail to expel it, measures will have to be taken.’
Urtasun reminded viewers that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had previously urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel, drawing parallels with the swift banning of Russia from Eurovision and other competitions following its invasion of Ukraine.
The minister stressed that criticising Israel was not antisemitic, describing the government in Tel Aviv as ‘genocidal’ and pointing to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He clarified that the final decision on Spain’s Eurovision participation would lie with RTVE, the national broadcaster, which has already voiced concerns about Israel’s inclusion in the contest.
Eurovision faces a growing crisis
Slovenia’s broadcaster RTVSLO has already said it is likely to withdraw from next year’s competition if Israel remains in.
Its director, Ksenija Horvat, confirmed that RTVSLO has repeatedly raised concerns with the EBU, echoing the stance taken by RTVE.
More than 70 former Eurovision contestants have signed an open letter calling for Israel and its broadcaster KAN to be banned. Austria’s 2024 Eurovision winner JJ has also publicly demanded Israel’s exclusion.
The EBU, which organises Eurovision, has extended its penalty-free withdrawal deadline until December. A final decision on Israel’s participation is expected at the organisation’s General Assembly later this year.
